Fired Newscaster Alleges Racial Discrimination

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (CN) - A black newscaster claims a TV production company fired her because, one of its producers told her, "the company needed a 'white' presence" on the air.

Kimberly Adams sued Everest Production Corp. in Burlington County Court.

Adams says in her bare-bones complaint that she began appearing on air for Everest in December 2011.

On Jan. 29 this year, she says, she "was pulled aside by one of the producers at Everest Production Company, [nonparty] Ahmet Kukrek, and told words to the effect that the company needed a 'white' presence so they had hired a white female."

The complaint continues: "In fact, a new hire who was a white female was hired and she took over the afternoon newscasts that plaintiff had been anchoring.

"Ever since the new white female hire began anchoring the show that plaintiff once anchored, plaintiff was taken off the schedule and has not received a call back for any newscasts."

Adams seeks $1 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages for racial discrimination.

She is represented by Matthew Wolf with Pappas & Wolf of Haddon Heights.

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