Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Back in December, former Asheville Citizen-Times Executive Editor Susan Ihne filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against her boss and the newspaper’s publisher, Randy Hammer, and the newspaper’s corporate parent, Gannett Co. Inc.
Ihne claimed in her lawsuit that Hammer bullied and harrassed her. Hammer, in a response filed at the end of January, denies the allegations. You can read his response here.
Additional paperwork on file in the Buncombe County Courthouse gives some hints at where Ihne and her legal team are headed in terms of trying to make a case against Hammer, a case that also alleges age and sex discrimination.
In what’s called “interrogatories,” Ihne’s lawyers list questions they want answered and basic kinds of information they seek. That includes:
-The name, business address and job title of all individuals who had any involvement or input into the decision to terminate Ihne from her job as executive editor.
-List of expert witnesses.
-State whether any employee of Gannett Co. Inc. has ever complained (from Jan. 1, 1998 to present) either orally or in writing or by e-mail to Gannett’s management about Randy Hammer in any way.
-Have there been any lawsuits filed in the southeast U.S., including but not limited to Fla., Kent. and N.C., by any individual against Gannett concerning allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing on the part of Randy Hammer between Jan. 1, 1998 and present.
-Have any current or former managers of Gannett ever informed Randy Hammer that he needed to improve in the way he treated other employees, and that if he didn’t improve in that regard, that he would be disciplined or terminated?
-Have any lawsuits been filed in the U.S. by female employees for age discrimination or sex discrimination or for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy against Gannett Co. from Jan. 1, 1998, to present?
-Questions regarding Gannett’s diversity program, when it started, who was in charge.
-The name, address and home phone of each and every female employee of Gannett age 40 and above in which Randy Hammer had any involvement in the decision to terminate their employment. (For the period of Jan. 1, 1998 to present); state reasons that Gannett gave for their termination.
-The names, last known addresses and home telephone numbers of all persons who have worked under the supervision of Randy Hammer at Gannett Co. since Jan. 1, 1998.
Whew. Ihne’s legal team has also set out a request for the production of documents. Here are some of the documents that Ihne is seeking:
-Ihne’s complete personnel file.
-Hammer’s complete personnnel file.
-Asheville Citizen-Times manuals and employee handbooks for 2007 and ’08.
-All written policies concerning harassment and/or bullying on the job which were in effect in 2007 and ’08.
-E-mails and other documents of Gannett Co. related to any and all complaints made by Ihne concerning Hammer in 2007 and ’08.
-All records, correspondence and documents, including e-mails, sent by Hammer about Ihne or in any way related to her in ’07 and’08.
-Copies of advertisements in the Asheville Citizen-Times promoting Gannett’s and the A C-T’s online growth from Oct. 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
-Emails, letters, correspondence, memos and documents from Randy Hammer to Denise Ivey, Randi Austin, Phil Currie and Steve Brandt regarding the newsroom, Susan Ihne, Pam Weaver and/or Susan Pryce from Oct. 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
-All e-mails and documents from Denise Ivey to Barbara Henry, Randy Hammer or any other managers, executives or editors of Gannett concerning Susan Ihne.
-Complete personnel file of Denise Ivey.
-Emails between Randy Hammer and A C-T marketing staff from Oct. 1, 2007 to present promoting online success.
-A Citizen-Times employee final rating of Susan Ihne.
-The written agenda and any follow-up notes or memos from the Louisville publisher meetings of Gannett from November 2007 through May 2008.
-All Scarborough reports from Jan. 1, 2000 to present for the A C-T.
-The Christine Corey memo and related notes regarding the A C-T operating committee meeting of Dec. 12, 2007.
-Videotape of Quint Studer made by the A C-T in May 2008 when Randy Hammer invited him to Asheville to give a talk on management.
If even half of these questions and this documentation comes together, it should make for some interesting and enlightening reading. I’ll continue following this case.
Susan’s editors should look at Springfield, Missouri in the early/mid-1990s where Hammer was exec. editor of the News-Leader. I was an employee back then and recall Hammer dumping his long-time wife and having a very public relationship with a very young, very blond ad exec at the paper.
If the Greenville finance VP oversees Asheville, the accounting folks will be happy. I hear he’s a good guy. But yeah, "Ding Dong…"
Randy Hammer is known to be hostile to any woman over 40. Have you seen his latest wife?
If Stenseth is really going, I am going to run outside and sing some verses from the Wizard of Oz. "Ding Dong the witch is gone"…
HH has done it again. In less than a year and a half he has either laid off or lost all of his OC members. I wonder if they give bonuses for that?
All of this really means is that the controller from Greenville will oversee the financials at the CTimes.
no more controller. she’s leaving for a hub in Reno
Who is the new advertising vice president? Can’t wait to see who they brought in for this position. Different person – same scare tactics.
OC? What OC? Aren’t they all gone? Just the evil controller left, and no way would she turn on her buddy The Hammer. She rules by fear too, cut from the same cloth.
new "advertising vice president" who will oversee asheville and greenville advertising departments. i heard yesterday from someone on the first floor, but who knows how long she’s been around? it’s not as if there’s any information sharing in the building.
My advice. Be in this for the long haul. Time flies these days and although there will be stress in your life just brush it off.
You have a great case and I imagine the OC that has been drinking the same kool-aid as Hammer will start singing once they are on the stand in court.
Holy toledo!
Does not change how bad she sucked.
Not good for Ham to have Weaver, Inhe and Pryce material to use against him. He apparently treated all three extremely poorly in the short time they were in his presence. Surprised he still gets to warm a seat in the ac-t building.
From anyone on the inside, does he communicate at all with anyone outside of the newsroom? Just curious.
Lots of information requested. It will be a waiting game and many times the only real winner is the attorney. Good Luck to Susan! I’m sure Hatchet Hammer will use this as an excuse to the higher ups, "This law suit is such a diversion."
What excuse does he use to the subscribers for publishing a very poor newspaper? Where is his annual evaluation? Revenue down! Circulation down! Morale down! News Coverage awful! Laid off 1/3 of his employees?! Hmmm! Makes you wonder doesn’t it?
The after life has a special place for people like him.
A very interesting reed indeed.