Demetria Kalodimos ridiculed, called 'old maid' by bosses, ex-Channel 4 reporters allege in lawsuit

Three popular former Channel 4 news personalities blasted station management in an age-discrimination lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Nashville.

Former longtime reporter Dennis Ferrier, veteran anchor/reporter Jennifer Johnson and longtime weekend meteorologist Nancy Van Camp said they were victims of harassment and ridicule shortly before they were terminated from WSMV.

Channel 4's owner, Meredith Corporation, issued a statement denying that any employees were mistreated or that age was a reason for any of the plaintiffs leaving the station.

The lawsuit also charges that managers have exposed veteran anchor Demetria Kalodimos — who is not a plaintiff in the suit — to "many acts of age-based discrimination and hostility."

Those acts include "public berating" and "ridicule," spreading false rumors that Kalodimos would be retiring soon and referring to the veteran anchor as an "old maid," according to the lawsuit.

Kalodimos didn't respond to several requests for comment.

Paul Karpowicz, president of Meredith Local Media Group, maintained Tuesday that the claims are without merit.

More: Channel 4 sheds veteran Dennis Ferrier, others

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"While we do not discuss personnel matters publicly out of respect for the individuals, it is unfortunate that they have decided to suggest that their age or gender was a factor in their respective departures, or that they were mistreated in any way," he said. "That is simply not true."

The general manager and news director at the station's helm during the time when the lawsuit alleges discrimination and mistreatment no longer work at WSMV.

The plaintiffs allege WSMV "transformed into a workplace where veteran on-air personalities were permitted to become the targets of a persistent pattern and practice of age discrimination, harassment, hostility and retaliation," the lawsuit said.

Johnson — now a spokeswoman for Wilson County schools — referred The Tennessean to the lawyer for the plaintiffs, Brian C. Winfrey, who did not immediately return a phone call.

Ferrier, now a Fox 17 news reporter, and Van Camp didn't respond immediately to requests for comment.

The lawsuit said the station started "a station-wide pattern and practice of age-based employment discrimination and harassment that resulted in the reduction, removal and/or replacement of many of its veteran on-air personalities" in 2015.

In the suit, the three plaintiffs said they were good employees who were replaced for no good reason.

Ferrier, who concedes he made a "minor misstatement" on a news report June 30, 2016, said in his termination meeting, then-WSMV news director Jim Gilchriest called Ferrier "a (expletive) liar," "bombastic" and an "underperformer."

Gilchriest could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit also says managers got rid of traffic reporter Jennifer Herron, reporter/fill-in anchor Adrianne Flores and Patrick McMurtry, and two of them were replaced with much younger personalities.

At the same time, there was "a rise in workplace hostilities, criticisms, public beratement, adverse work assignments and other forms of disparate treatment against older on-air personalities ... by Channel 4 leadership," the suit states.

The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement, back pay and attorneys' fees. They are represented by attorneys Rob McGuire and Winfrey.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.