Kelly Rissman
Former Fox News employee Laurie Luhn sues Fox News, 21st Century Fox and a disgraced ex-executive who became Trump’s White House communications director Bill Shine for negligence and discrimination in employment for sexual abuse by Roger Ailes that lasted more than two decades, according to a complaint filed Wednesday morning.
Luhn, represented by Reid Collins & Tsai, is suing under New York State’s Adult Survivors Act, a law passed in May 2022, which provides survivors of sexual misconduct with a unique opportunity to bring a civil action , even if the limitation period has expired . It is the same law that allowed the ancients She journalist E. Jean Carroll sue former president donald trumpshe has accused of raping her in a department store in the 90s. Carroll is suing Trump for defamation and assault. (Trump has denied all the allegations.)
“This complaint is an example of how the law empowers victims of abuse to finally hold powerful institutions like Fox News accountable for the damage they have caused,” Barbara Whiten BallietteLuhn’s lead attorney, said vanity lounge in an email.
According to Luhn’s complaint, Ailes blackmailed her into videotaping and photographing her in sexual acts “to ensure compliance and public silence” about her misconduct. “He constantly reminded Luhn that he ‘owned’ her, that she was his ‘sex slave,’ and that if she talked about it, ‘he would make her pay dearly,'” the complaint reads. He also claims that Fox News and its parent company 21st Century Fox knew “but did nothing to stop it.”
“This case is about finally getting justice for Ms. Luhn,” said Whiten Balliette. “She hopes to hold Bill Shine and Fox News accountable for the years of abuse, trauma, sexual violence and discrimination she suffered at the hands of Roger Ailes – and which they made possible. She never received any compensation for these outrages, which deeply and irrevocably damaged her life.
Luhn also accuses Shine—whom the complaint describes as “Ailes’ ax man”—of abetting his boss and covering up his alleged misconduct. Shine “took it upon himself to control Luhn’s personal life, manage his medical care, and ensure his public silence about sexual abuse,” the complaint states. Luhn seeks compensatory damages and punitive damages.
“This case was settled years ago, dismissed in subsequent litigation, and is without merit,” a Fox News Media spokesperson said. vanity lounge has reached out to 21st Century Fox and NewsNation (where Mr. Shine is a consultant) for comment.
Luhn has attempted several legal actions against Fox and surrounding media since accusing former Fox Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes of sexual abuse internally more than ten years ago. According to the complaint, Ailes hired Luhn in the late 1980s and brought her to Fox News when it launched. She worked within the network from 1996 to 2011, as director of reservations, then as senior director of corporate and special events. In 2011, after reporting the harassment, she took a reported $3.15 million Fox settlement and signed a nondisclosure agreement. Luhn later said she was “pressured, coerced and fraudulently induced” to comply with the rules.
She sued Fox News and the network’s new CEO Suzanne Scott for defamation in 2019, after Scott denied knowing about abuse allegations against Ailes. Fox filed a motion to dismiss the case and won. During the filming of a mini-series by Roger Ailes, based on a book by vanity lounge corresponding Gabriel Sherman—Luhn sued Showtime in 2019 for violating his right to privacy; however, she dropped the A $750 million lawsuit six months after filing.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday said, “Luhn agreed to a settlement that was only her current salary until she reaches retirement age ($250,000 x 12 years). Fox News withheld more than 30% of the tax settlement as they would a salary payment or severance package. Although this settlement was inadequate, Luhn’s dire financial situation (caused by his inability to work due to the trauma of the sexual assaults) combined with his oppressive fear of the Fox News machine and Shine’s continued control over his life l forced her to capitulate.
Shine was not accused of harassment himself and denied knowing anything about Ailes’ alleged misconduct. In May 2017, he was ousted from Fox in part for helping to enable sexual harassment.
At least 20 women have accused Ailes of sexual harassment; wings resigned from Fox in July 2016and he died in May of the following year.