David Custer Wins First Round in Lawsuit Against WNEM-TV

Former WNEM-TV anchor David Custer has scored an early legal victory, with a Genesee County judge allowing his lawsuit against the station to proceed to a jury trial.

WNEM-TV Abruptly Parts Ways With David Custer

Custer’s nearly 11-year run with the station ended abruptly in July 2024, after management informed him his contract would not be renewed at the end of the month. Just six days before his contract expired on July 28, he filed a lawsuit against WNEM.

David Custer's Lawsuit Against Channel 5

The suit names WNEM, parent company Gray Media Group, General Manager Kenneth Frierson Jr., and News Director Jayne Hodak Soboleski as defendants.

Custer alleges his termination was linked to a human resources investigation in which he gave “truthful but unflattering” statements about the station’s workplace environment. His attorney, Tom Pabst, told the Midland Daily News the lawsuit stemmed from Custer standing up for another employee who had filed a complaint against the station. The suit was amended after Custer’s firing.

Key Allegations in the Lawsuit

The complaint cites three counts—discrimination, harassment, and retaliation—under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which protects against employment discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, or marital status.

Recent Court Developments

On Monday, August 11, a Genesee County Circuit Court judge denied WNEM’s motion to strike Custer’s demand for a jury trial, clearing the way for the case to be heard before a jury.

Pabst said Tuesday that he hopes the court’s next move will be to set a trial date.