Former ABC Producer Drops CBS Correspondent Matt Gutman From Harassment Lawsuit

Key points

• Said’s legal team filed paperwork in Los Angeles Superior Court on September 4 to dismiss Gutman as a defendant.
• The filing did not provide a reason for the removal of Gutman from the case.
• ABC News and The Walt Disney Co. remain defendants in the ongoing lawsuit.
• The suit also seeks to drop former Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon.
• Gutman, who joined CBS News in January 2026, declined to comment through a representative.

Background

In August 2026, Said filed a lawsuit alleging that Gutman made sexualized comments and contributed to a hostile work environment while they were colleagues at ABC. The original complaint detailed two specific incidents: one involving the rating of a female colleague’s appearance and another involving a sexualized insinuation regarding Said’s professional judgment. The lawsuit further alleged that ABC denied Said reasonable accommodations for mental health issues following trauma from covering the Uvalde school shooting and a COVID-19 infection, leading to her demotion and eventual termination in March 2025.

How outlets are covering it

All four outlets report that the request to drop Gutman was filed on September 4 without explanation. USA TODAY and Deadline emphasize that the core of the lawsuit against ABC and Disney remains unchanged, focusing on the denial of medical leave and wrongful termination. The Los Angeles Times notes that while Gutman is being removed, the allegations against him and former bureau chief David Herndon technically still stand in the broader context of the complaint, though the latter is also being sought for dismissal. The New York Post frames the development as a 'dramatic twist' that places Gutman 'almost in the clear,' highlighting the lack of comment from both the plaintiff’s lawyers and CBS News. There is no disagreement on the facts of the filing, but the emphasis varies between the procedural removal of the defendant and the continuing legal battle against the network.

Why it matters

This development removes a high-profile media figure from a significant employment discrimination case, potentially reducing the public scrutiny on CBS News. However, the lawsuit against ABC and Disney continues to test the network’s compliance with California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act regarding mental health accommodations and workplace safety, setting a precedent for how media companies handle employees with trauma-related medical needs.

What to watch

The court will now review the request to dismiss Gutman and Herndon. The lawsuit against ABC and Disney will proceed, with Said seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The outcome of this case could influence how news organizations handle medical leave and accommodations for journalists exposed to traumatic events.