Former WLNS editor files lawsuit against ex-anchor, supervisor alleging sexual harassment

Note: This article has been updated to correct the amount of damages sought.

A former editor at a Lansing TV station alleges that the station did not take appropriate action on sexual harassment complaints, according to a lawsuit. 

Cheryl Fritze, who had worked at WLNS Channel 6 since 2013 as a news assignment editor, reported multiple instances of sexual harassment to her supervisors as early as 2014, according to court filings. 

Nexstar Broadcasting, owners of the station, declined to comment Thursday.

Fritze accused former anchor Evan Pinsonnault of sexually harassing two female interns in the complaint. In one case, Pinsonnault reportedly took an intern to lunch, purchased alcohol and asked to go to her apartment. In another, an intern found him repeatedly watching a news clip of her to the point where she felt uncomfortable. 

When Fritze reported Pinsonnault's actions to management, they refused to take any action, according to the lawsuit. Months later, they terminated Pinsonnault's employment, but then began an "adversarial relationship" with Fritze. They began displaying sexually inappropriate behavior, she said in the lawsuit. 

"The severe sexually inappropriate misconduct of male employees eroded (Fritze's) relationship with (Nexstar) as management decided to protect the male employees," according to the lawsuit. 

Pinsonnault did not immediately respond for comment Thursday. The lawsuit was filed Aug. 9 in Ingham County Circuit Court. 

During a report on the book series "50 Shades of Grey," Fritze said she was subjected to a "multitude of degrading behaviors." She said she reported the incidents to her manager. 

According to the lawsuit, another intern also complained about sexual harassment by news director Jam Sardar. Fritze again reported it. After a report came out saying no policy violations existed, the station manager waved the report in Fritze's face. 

Although Fritze's attorney at the time told her this would be a difficult case, Fritze said she wanted to do anything that would stop the misconduct, according to the lawsuit.

When Nexstar sent a representative up to check the climate at WLNS, they spoke to three people and determined there was no problem, even though Fritze provided 12 employees who had experienced similar mistreatment, according to the lawsuit. 

In May 2018, Nexstar Broadcasting, which owns WLNS, terminated Fritze's contract. She did not want to leave the station, and seeks to get her job back. She also is asking for in excess of $25,000.

Contact Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.