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Fired for being in the military?

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  • Description

    Legal panel weighs in on Weather Channel employee's case

  • Duration 5:57
  • Date

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Happening now all former weather channel's star is suing the channel now claiming.

She was fired because of her military service reporter Morse -- -- fox affiliate WA GA.

Has more.

Offensively -- job but a passion for this air force reserve officer.

They stayed in because I love my job.

I'm a meteorologist who gets to find storms and that's incredible.

But what seemed to be a good fit for the part time officer and full time on air talent for the weather channel turned sour.

She claims new management began to allegedly hassle horror about time she was missing from work to keep the military side.

She says the ongoing scheduling dispute led to her contract not being renewed.

A lawsuit filed on her behalf spells out how personnel in the armed forces are supposed to be protected when they also work for private employer.

For TV job appearances important Mitchell says a manager's golden her.

But she chose to keep for a weekend air force commitment instead of coming in to get her hair done.

The lawyer says the same time the weather channel allegedly placed on reasonable demands on Mitchell.

They also sought to capitalize on our air force duty as part of the hurricane -- crew.

Which flies in the storms together whether they that a former military -- supported me what the news conference and issued a challenge to the weather channel to settle the plane.

We had never hope to see this day.

Where we had to publicize.

Their outrageous conduct.

And -- hypocrisy.

In promoting an upcoming special on the hurricane hunters while -- drive somebody out of the company.

Who works in that program -- popular right now to say we support the troops and then we've got your back.

But if you're gonna say it -- unit.

The company responded in a statement.

The weather channel is committed to creating a work atmosphere free of discrimination and in compliance with the uniformed.

Services employment and re employment rights act of 1994.

And it's owners support that commitment.

So does she have a case let's bring in our legal panel police -- is a Fox News legal analyst.

Jennifer bond -- is a criminal defense attorney lease what do you think can she successfully sued she's got a great case and -- 1994 act we just heard there because you cannot discriminate against somebody because -- in the military.

And yes -- she missed two weekends for hair and makeup assignments as she didn't go to.

Yes she did but what -- on air all the time with stellar review performances.

Yes she did and so how can -- how can you take any other thing from that other that he just wasn't there for those two weekends.

And that -- management -- you can't fire someone over that though.

When they're going to the military just for example John if you're and a jury duty you can't fire someone because they're doing their jury jury duty and away from work about that time.

But yet you know Jennifer I've been in television a long time I've had a couple of contracts in other places that were not renewed in management always that it's nothing personal we just wanna go in a different direction or what -- Yes but -- a uniformed services employment and re -- an act does in fact protect.

Those who serve in the armed forces and the reserves from being disadvantaged in any way in their civilian employment.

All that being said if in fact the weather channel discriminated or did -- renew her contract.

Because of her service.

Duties and obligation yes that would actually violate -- -- -- -- -- they're gonna have some issues -- in court.

But what right now is a complete.

An allegation.

That has not been responded to by the weather channel and any formal way and anybody can file a lawsuit it just -- -- a couple hundred -- actually.

And so we to wait and see because if the weather channel can -- that she would have been fired irrespective.

Of her obligations.

Nate I have not violated the act and there's no look to pursue it but but right not we're just in the heat -- Allegations state -- -- -- let me read before -- we get -- -- let me read this late statement from the weather channel that they -- -- as with many situations they say.

There is more than one version of what occurred when I agree with many of the assertions in the plaintiff plaintiffs press statements.

And intend to vigorously defend the matter in the arbitration process.

Georgia is a right to work state rightly so.

Yet that is correct so but wait a second here John just just back up for 12 because like I completely agree with what with things sat.

In the sense that we have to take the allegations right now as we know that if the allegations are as we know that.

Which is she had stellar work performances there was nothing that she did wrong that the only reason this what would -- would save her for an -- here is in 1994.

Bob violation of the the Patriot -- then and of the Patriot Act but the right to worry about the right to work at but both of these yet -- -- -- -- got to thank you thank you.

Then that is a real problem for the employer and I I can't -- -- John I understand that that is you know TV contracts radio contracts it could be room renewed or not renewed.

But not for that reason.

If I'm the the problem I guess might be proving -- I mean does she have an email chain or something wrong bat.

We we just see the proof in this case the defense hasn't even answered the complaint yet so we'll -- -- -- -- some.

She actually what about how I'm doing XYZ when she said she was not doing -- -- again this is speculation we don't know what the.

The responses and it's very premature to say that they have violated the act by virtue of her complaint but her untested -- you wouldn't let you would agree with me though wouldn't -- that it is just those two weekends where she missed -- hair and makeup console because she had a long.

Standing out obligation to the military you would agree with me that would not be right for firing yes I would agree a 100% look at my experience is it is one person delegations don't always turn out to be true that's -- I think we would all agree that if that's why they did it it's pretty brawling but we'll see how this -- lawsuit proceeds and we'll keep our viewers updated.

Jennifer -- -- at least we'll thank you -- thank you.

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