Jury Awarded $4 Million to Former WOOD TV8 Directors

A federal jury ruled in favor of two former news directors regarding false light and workplace law violations.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in LGBTQand

Jury Awarded $4 Million to Former WOOD TV8 Directors

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Should companies be held legally liable for how they handle internal disciplinary processes and public statements?

A federal jury in Grand Rapids awarded $4 million to two former WOOD TV8 news directors following their firing over an internal memo regarding Gay Pride Month coverage. While the jury rejected defamation claims against Nexstar Media Group, it found in favor of the plaintiffs on other counts.

Why it matters

The case highlights the legal risks corporations face regarding employee privacy and internal record-keeping practices. The firing of the directors followed the external leaking of a memo written to address concerns about how the station covered heritage events.

Amy Fox received $2.393 million while Stanton Tang received $1.683 million for false light invasion of privacy, exemplary damages, and violations of the Michigan Employee Right to Know Act. The awards were determined after four workers were fired.

The players

Amy Fox

She is a former WOOD TV8 news director who was awarded over $2 million by a federal jury.

Stanton Tang

He is a former WOOD TV8 news director who requested the internal memo regarding Pride Month coverage.

Nexstar Media Group

This is the media company that employed the two directors and fired four staff members after the memo leaked.

Robert Jonker

He is the U.S. District Judge who presided over the federal jury trial in Grand Rapids.

The details

Stanton Tang asked Amy Fox to draft an internal memo in June 2023 to manage the station's Gay Pride Month coverage and avoid alienating conservative viewers. The memo was subsequently leaked to other media outlets, leading to the termination of the two directors and two other workers.

In June 2023, Stanton Tang requested that Amy Fox write the internal memo.
The federal jury trial began on October 6, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker.
The jury reached unanimous verdicts on October 9, 2026.

Culture Shift

This litigation highlights a growing trend of professional conflicts arising from internal corporate policies on social issues and identity month coverage. The verdict underscores the tension between editorial decision-making and workplace privacy protections.

This case serves as a reminder to local employees about the importance of understanding their rights under the Michigan Employee Right to Know Act. Residents may note how workplace policies regarding sensitive content can trigger significant legal consequences.

The takeaway

This case illustrates the high cost of internal communications that are not securely managed within a corporate environment. Employees should be aware that internal memos regarding company policies can become public and lead to protracted legal disputes.