CBS Correspondent Matt Gutman Dismissed from ABC Workplace Lawsuit
Los Angeles, Sunday, 6 September 2026.
A Los Angeles court dismissed journalist Matt Gutman from a former ABC producer’s harassment lawsuit due to insufficient evidence, though litigation against ABC News and Disney continues.
Legal Shift in Media Litigation
On Friday, 4 September 2026, a significant development occurred in a high-profile workplace lawsuit involving major broadcast networks. Lawyers for former ABC News field producer Samira Said filed a request in Los Angeles County Superior Court to remove CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman as a defendant from her wrongful termination lawsuit [1][2]. This legal adjustment narrows the scope of the litigation, which initially targeted several prominent network personnel and executives, leaving ABC News and parent company The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) as the remaining defendants [3][4]. For broadcast executives and corporate legal teams, the case underscores continuing risk management and liability challenges surrounding legacy workplace conduct claims at major network news divisions [1].
Background of the Allegations
Said, who worked at ABC News for 4 years, originally filed the lawsuit on 14 August 2026 against ABC News and Disney, alleging sexual harassment by Gutman and former ABC News Los Angeles Bureau Chief Dave Herndon [2][3]. The complaint claimed she was fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment by Gutman, asserting he made inappropriate comments and touched her inappropriately during a 2022 work trip to Miami [1][5]. While Gutman is being dropped as a defendant, ABC and Disney remain defendants in the suit, and allegations against Gutman and Herndon regarding a hostile work environment and inappropriate sexual comments remain part of the legal record [3][4]. The court ruled that Said failed to provide sufficient evidence to support her claims against Gutman individually, noting that the allegations did not meet the legal threshold for personal liability under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act [1].
Corporate and Career Context
Matt Gutman, 48, served at ABC News for 17 years before being hired by CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss in October 2025, recently acting as an anchor for the CBS Evening News [1][4]. CBS News is a division of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA), adding a layer of cross-corporate complexity to the dispute involving Disney [2][5]. Despite the removal request, allegations against Gutman and Herndon stand in the public record, and ABC News remains a defendant in the lawsuit, which continues to proceed regarding claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, and failure to prevent harassment against the network [3][4]. Said claims she was demoted to weekend desk shifts and later terminated on 5 March 2025, despite being praised as a top performer by ABC News Vice President Katie DenDaas shortly before the firing [3].
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The lawsuit continues to proceed regarding claims of wrongful termination, retaliation, and failure to prevent harassment against the network, with Said’s legal team asserting the conduct constituted clear violations of the law with profound consequences [2][5]. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen Goorvitch dismissed ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman from the wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuit, stating the plaintiff failed to allege facts sufficient to state a claim against Gutman for harassment [1][3]. Said continues to pursue legal action against ABC News and The Walt Disney Co. regarding the alleged wrongful termination, with her attorney noting that meaningful change in the workplace can only occur when employees are empowered to speak out against injustice [2][4]. The specific reasons for Gutman’s removal from the lawsuit remain undisclosed as of 4 September 2026, though the legal threshold for personal liability was cited as a key factor [1][5].