EEOC files suit against CBS station over traffic-reporter hiring

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed suit against the CBS Stations Group of Texas, which includes the local CBS 11 station, saying the station violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the agency announced on Sept. 26.

The EEOC said that the CBS Stations Group violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) when it refused to hire Tammy Campbell, formerly known as Tammy Dombeck, as a full-time traffic reporter position because of her age.

CBS Stations Group of Texas is a division of New York-based CBS Corporation. CBS Corporation owns and operates a group of 29 television stations throughout the United States, including a Dallas/Fort Worth television station, KTVT, Inc., locally known as “CBS 11.”

“KTVT respectfully disagrees with the EEOC’s current assessment and looks forward to resolving this matter,” said a spokeswoman for the station.

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The EEOC filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (EEOC v. CBS Broadcasting Inc., d/b/a CBS Stations Group of Texas, KTXA-TV and KTVT-TV; Civil Action No. 3:17-CV02624-M) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process, according to an EEOC news release.

According to the EEOC’s suit, Campbell had worked for CBS 11 as a “freelance, non-staff traffic reporter” beginning in February 2013. In October 2014, CBS 11’s morning full-time traffic reporter resigned and CBS 11 initiated a search for a replacement. The job announcement stated that the ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of local traffic in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. CBS 11’s job announcement went on, “applicant must have at least 5 years professional broadcasting experience.”

Campbell expressed interest in the position, but CBS 11 hired a 24-year-old, Chelsey Davis, who, according to the EEOC, did not have five years’ experience.