Breaking: Ex-KGO Radio Talker Brian Copeland Sues Cumulus. But Case is Far Different Then Barbieri

Brian Copeland

Former KGO Radio talk host, Brian Copeland, is suing Cumulus over racial bias and age discrimination. He was subsequently let go.


My immediate reaction: long, long time before Copeland sees a dime, if any. Copeland is looking for Cumulus to settle this suit and pay out a big sum for this to go away. Good luck with that, Copie,.


There is precedent in this situation as former veteran sports talker, Ralph Barbieri, sued the Cloud Company and the suit was settled out of court.


Barbieri was represented by Angela Alioto, who coincidently is representing Copeland.


Barbieri ended up settling for a nice chunk of change although I do not see that ending in this particular lawsuit. Far too many variables.

Flash: Alioto To 415 Media Exclusively: 'We Go To Trial September 9th'; Barbieri Lawsuit Against KNBR/Cumulus Proceeds

Just got this e-mail from Ralph Barbieri's attorney, Angela Alioto:

We have won the Summary Judgement and we are going to trial in San Francisco on September 9th...on the following causes of action: Discrimination based on Age, Discrimination based on Disability, Wrongful Termination, Failure to Prevent Discrimination, Breach of contract.....AND Fraud by Lew Dickey. We will pick a jury on Monday September 9th.

Barbieri was fired from KNBR--Cumulus in April of 2012. There are many people who thought it wouldn't make it this far. They still may be right. The prospect of a settlement is always pertinent and still likely, but this is not your normal case.

A. As one of Ralph's friends pointed out to me recently, "Two things: Ralph is a Scorpio and he's Italian."

B. Deep-pocketed Cumulus can let this play out, right? Maybe, maybe not. Almost every lawyer says Barbieri has no chance to win. They're probably right. On the other hand those same lawyers said it would never get to this point. It has.

C. If the case proceeds, does Cumulus want its dirty laundry aired in public? I doubt it. Does it dare risk further info exposed into the public domain about its secret business model. Would Cumulus itself want to go forward with a potentially sympathetic San Francisco jury judging the merits of a guy who has early-stages Parkinson's disease that was shown the door by a greedy corporate glob like Cumulus?

**Developing...

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Barbieri lawsuit against Cumulus/KNBR proceeds; Dickey deposed; Trial begins Sept. 9; Yahoo replaces Chronicle on CSNBA Talk Show; Saturday Media Notes

Ralph Barbieri's lawsuit against Cumulus is proceeding; both he and his lawyer, Angela Alioto, returned to the Bay Area Friday night after a day in Atlanta where Cumulus CEO, Lew Dickey, was deposed.

Barbieri was fired from KNBR in April of 2012 and months later, filed an unlawful termination suit against Cumulus media. The odds of the suit making it all the way through the legal web and to actual court is long and arduous, let alone Barbieri winning, but the Dickey deposition means the ex-KNBR talk vet is serious about pursuing his day in court.

The trial begins Sept. 9th. No talk of settlement on either side.

**Comcast SportsNet's, "Chronicle Live" is no more: come Monday, the sports cable show becomes "Yahoo Sports Live." My gut tells me Yahoo offered a sizable chunk of cash to sponsor the local sports chat show and the Chronicle balked. Just a hunch.

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