Sue Manteris
Attorneys for former Las Vegas television news anchor Sue Manteris are fighting efforts to have her employment dispute decided through arbitration.
Manteris worked for KSNV Channel 3 for some 22 years and in May sued the station, charging she had been subjected to discrimination on the basis of age, race and gender.
She left Channel 3 when her contract expired June 10 and was not renewed.
Attorneys for KSNV, in responding to her lawsuit this month, asked that her federal lawsuit be put on hold and that the dispute be submitted to arbitration — something they said was required by her employment contract.
Attorneys for Manteris responded Friday, filing a court brief agreeing her employment agreement provided for arbitration — but only for claims arising under state law.
They said the bulk of Manteris’ lawsuit covers alleged violations of federal employment law including claims of racial, age and gender discrimination, hostile work environment and retaliation.
The only state law claims involve an alleged breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and negligent supervision and training.
“This case essentially involves allegations that Channel 3, a holder of a privileged federal license, violated several federal employment laws,’’ the filing said.
“Ms. Manteris did not knowingly and intentionally waive her jury trial rights under federal law,’’ her filing said.
“Despite affirmatively knowing that her claims are not contemplated in the arbitration provision, defendants first attempted to cajole Ms. Manteris into voluntarily relinquishing her rights and then, by the filing of the (arbitration) motion, they attempt to coerce Ms. Manteris into doing so,’’ said the filing by her attorneys with Flangas McMillan Law Group in Las Vegas.
U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro hasn’t indicated when she may rule on the arbitration dispute.
KSNV attorneys in their arbitration motion didn’t indicate why they favored that approach to resolving the dispute — but one feature of arbitration proceedings is that they’re generally private.
That is in stark contrast to the demand by Manteris that her grievances be aired during a public trial.