David Custer
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FormerNews5Dude
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2020 4:53 pm
Re: David Custer
His melodramatic video is pretty over the top. The sad music. The somber tone. The me, me, me script. Okay, dude. Enough. I'm sure he'll land on his feet somewhere, but let's not pretend there wasn't a MASSIVE drop off in talent from Sam Merrill to Custer. That being said, TV management is horrible. With very few exceptions, it's just a terrible business to get into.
Re: David Custer
You think that all local broadcast TV stations are state-run news. Local news plays it down the middle other than a few I'll not name them as I'll let those that don't like them say it.
David Custer will find a new job in PR or real estate as it seems those are the go-to for leaving the business.
Go Pistons, Let's Go Redwings.
Re: David Custer
Via Mlive
SAGINAW, MI — The viewing public may have been caught off-guard when popular WNEM TV-5 anchor David Custer announced his time with the station had reached its end. Custer, though, knew weeks in advance his contract wasn’t being renewed and went on the offensive, filing a lawsuit against the news station that had employed him for 11 years.
As he claims, he was let go after giving truthful but unflattering statements about the station’s inner workings during a probe by its Human Resources Division.
Custer on July 29 posted a three-minute video on his Facebook page stating WNEM told him on July 1 it was not renewing his contract and that his employment was being terminated July 28.
Six days prior, Custer through Flint attorney Tom R. Pabst filed suit in Genesee County Circuit Court, naming WNEM, Gray Media Group, General Manager Kenneth Frierson Jr., and News Director Jayne Hodak Soboleski as defendants. Custer is requesting a judgment of $100,000 plus attorney costs and interest.
The suit contains three counts, all related to Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act: discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Prior to his termination, Custer was a loyal and dutiful employee, bringing prestige to the station in the form of 11 Emmy Awards and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, the suit states.
The defendants showed a predisposition to discriminate, the suit alleges. As examples, Pabst wrote they criticized and held it against a female employee for trying to start a family, made inappropriate comments about the hair of certain ethnicities, and denied requested time off even when an employee had to care for a family member having a mastectomy.
Custer himself faced increased scrutiny and poor treatment when other staff members would go to him for assistance rather than Soboleski.
“David earned the respect of his colleagues and coworkers, and that’s why they trusted him enough to confide in him,” Pabst told MLive,
Employees began complaining about Sobolewski’s behavior, prompting an HR investigation, the suit states. Custer himself complained of Soboleski’s conduct and was interviewed by HR personnel.
“He testified in their investigation in a way they didn’t like,” Pabst said, adding employee statements to HR are to be sealed.
Yet Pabst argued station leaders somehow obtained Custer’s statements from HR. Once they did so, they began treating Custer improperly, the suit alleges. Frierson began “freezing out” and no longer speaking to Custer and at one point told staff he “won’t be disrespected in the newsroom anymore” and “a big change was coming,” then announced Custer was leaving the station.
Frierson tried filing a claim that Custer was combative when told his contract wasn’t being renewed. When this was shown to be false, Frierson allegedly said the claim was “just a negotiation tactic,” according to the suit.
Contacted by MLive, Frierson declined to comment on the suit.
The defendants were served with the lawsuit before Custer worked his last day, Pabst said. They fired him a few days before July 28, “in a fit of pique,” as Pabst put it.
The loss of his job has left Custer distraught.
“This has really torn him apart, inside and out,” Pabst said. “He’s just devastated by this. He loves his community, and he loved his job. He would have never left it.”
In his Facebook post, Custer did not elaborate on any future career plans.
“I believe in my heart that the best is yet to come,” he said. “I’ll still be here in the community I love, fighting for all of you. I’ll be here for your stories, questions, your comments, your ideas, your friendships. That won’t change. But, remember, change is ok. I ask all of you for your continued support as I set sail for a new journey. Ships weren’t meant to stay in the harbor, they were built to venture out to sea.”
SAGINAW, MI — The viewing public may have been caught off-guard when popular WNEM TV-5 anchor David Custer announced his time with the station had reached its end. Custer, though, knew weeks in advance his contract wasn’t being renewed and went on the offensive, filing a lawsuit against the news station that had employed him for 11 years.
As he claims, he was let go after giving truthful but unflattering statements about the station’s inner workings during a probe by its Human Resources Division.
Custer on July 29 posted a three-minute video on his Facebook page stating WNEM told him on July 1 it was not renewing his contract and that his employment was being terminated July 28.
Six days prior, Custer through Flint attorney Tom R. Pabst filed suit in Genesee County Circuit Court, naming WNEM, Gray Media Group, General Manager Kenneth Frierson Jr., and News Director Jayne Hodak Soboleski as defendants. Custer is requesting a judgment of $100,000 plus attorney costs and interest.
The suit contains three counts, all related to Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act: discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Prior to his termination, Custer was a loyal and dutiful employee, bringing prestige to the station in the form of 11 Emmy Awards and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, the suit states.
The defendants showed a predisposition to discriminate, the suit alleges. As examples, Pabst wrote they criticized and held it against a female employee for trying to start a family, made inappropriate comments about the hair of certain ethnicities, and denied requested time off even when an employee had to care for a family member having a mastectomy.
Custer himself faced increased scrutiny and poor treatment when other staff members would go to him for assistance rather than Soboleski.
“David earned the respect of his colleagues and coworkers, and that’s why they trusted him enough to confide in him,” Pabst told MLive,
Employees began complaining about Sobolewski’s behavior, prompting an HR investigation, the suit states. Custer himself complained of Soboleski’s conduct and was interviewed by HR personnel.
“He testified in their investigation in a way they didn’t like,” Pabst said, adding employee statements to HR are to be sealed.
Yet Pabst argued station leaders somehow obtained Custer’s statements from HR. Once they did so, they began treating Custer improperly, the suit alleges. Frierson began “freezing out” and no longer speaking to Custer and at one point told staff he “won’t be disrespected in the newsroom anymore” and “a big change was coming,” then announced Custer was leaving the station.
Frierson tried filing a claim that Custer was combative when told his contract wasn’t being renewed. When this was shown to be false, Frierson allegedly said the claim was “just a negotiation tactic,” according to the suit.
Contacted by MLive, Frierson declined to comment on the suit.
The defendants were served with the lawsuit before Custer worked his last day, Pabst said. They fired him a few days before July 28, “in a fit of pique,” as Pabst put it.
The loss of his job has left Custer distraught.
“This has really torn him apart, inside and out,” Pabst said. “He’s just devastated by this. He loves his community, and he loved his job. He would have never left it.”
In his Facebook post, Custer did not elaborate on any future career plans.
“I believe in my heart that the best is yet to come,” he said. “I’ll still be here in the community I love, fighting for all of you. I’ll be here for your stories, questions, your comments, your ideas, your friendships. That won’t change. But, remember, change is ok. I ask all of you for your continued support as I set sail for a new journey. Ships weren’t meant to stay in the harbor, they were built to venture out to sea.”
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audiophile
- Posts: 9391
- Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:21 pm
- Location: Between 88 and 108 MHz.
Re: David Custer
Very flimsy case.
Psalm 139:13 ~ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
Jeremiah 1:5 ~ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
Exodus 20:13 ~ “You shall not murder."
Jeremiah 1:5 ~ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;
Exodus 20:13 ~ “You shall not murder."
Re: David Custer
Pabst represented Leslie Toldo when she sued Pete Veto and ABC 12. They settled out of court for $79,000
https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2015/1 ... 20reprisal.
https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2015/1 ... 20reprisal.
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waynerobertson1
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:21 pm
Re: David Custer
After Leslie got the $79,000 she had to pay her lawyer which might have been as much as 30% of her settlement. The bigger question was the non-compete clause dropped by her?
Leslie, if you are reading this please respond.
Leslie, if you are reading this please respond.
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FormerNews5Dude
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2020 4:53 pm
Re: David Custer
What a shock, he's suing. 
Re: David Custer
After reading that, I have one thought -
Spare me, Davey. This is a chicken
lawsuit. It’s a he said / she said lawsuit. Your ego is apparently H*** and overwhelming.
You’ll never work in TV News again, especially in this market, after doing this.
Spare me, Davey. This is a chicken
lawsuit. It’s a he said / she said lawsuit. Your ego is apparently H*** and overwhelming. You’ll never work in TV News again, especially in this market, after doing this.
Re: David Custer
So testifying in HR investigations is a protected action. Depending on the timing and if there is proof of a change in treatment from before to after he testified.. this is NOT a flimsy case. It's interesting you think you have enough information in this to have an opinion on it. It's a press release, there's no evidence being shown
Re: David Custer
David Custer playing the victim card not surprised why didn't he go to the union isn't WNEM a union house? Or don't unions do that only when a major group has to get a deal done and go on strike. David Custer is done in Flint he isn't going to be hired at 25/66 or Byron Allen's channel 12.
Go Pistons, Let's Go Redwings.
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whitebalance
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:46 pm
Re: David Custer
Who in their right mind would want to work at 25 or ABC12?
Sinclair and Byron Allen. You would do better at Walmart.
Sinclair and Byron Allen. You would do better at Walmart.
Re: David Custer
I thought it had been reported before he wasn’t a member of the union there ant was openly critical of itMasterB wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2024 12:42 am David Custer playing the victim card not surprised why didn't he go to the union isn't WNEM a union house? Or don't unions do that only when a major group has to get a deal done and go on strike. David Custer is done in Flint he isn't going to be hired at 25/66 or Byron Allen's channel 12.
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FormerNews5Dude
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2020 4:53 pm
Re: David Custer
WNEM is a NABET-CWA station.
Re: David Custer
I don't know if this is the case today, but 40 years ago, most of the NABET officials worked at WNEM, such as Chuck Waters, Roberta Wray, Chet Rogoza, and more.