Jury Orders KTLA to Pay Fired Reporter $1.2 Million

It was a good Tuesday and a bad Tuesday for KTLA Channel 5.

On the same day that the independent station’s senior news anchor was being honored for his 35 years in local television, the station was ordered by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury to pay $1.2 million to a former news reporter who claimed he was fired because he was too old.

The jury ruled that KTLA had discriminated against Steven Lentz, 44, a reporter who had worked on the station’s nightly “News at 10” broadcast. Lentz, who started at the station in 1984, said he was fired in February, 1994, because the station was targeting white reporters and anchors older than 40.

Although the jury deadlocked on the racial charge, they found that the station had fired Lentz because of his age.

“I’m quite pleased,” Lentz said from his home. “The jury did a good and fair job. Many of the jurors told me they thought I was treated pretty shabbily. Executives at the company testified that they didn’t feel I had done a good job, but they had never told me that when I was there.”

The trial, which lasted about 10 days and featured testimony from several KTLA executives, took place before Superior Court Judge Bruce Geernaert.

Marvin E. Crakow, Lentz’s attorney, said, “The station claimed that they didn’t like Steven’s style and presence. We were able to prove that was not a good reason to fire him.”

The jury’s decision ironically came on the same day that station anchor Hal Fishman, 63, was being honored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for his unprecedented longevity as a local newsman.

KTLA executives bristled at the jury’s decision, saying they would appeal the judgment.

“The jury correctly found that the station did not discriminate against Steven Lentz on the basis of his race, but KTLA is disappointed and strongly disagrees with the verdict that KTLA discharged him because of his age,” station manager John Reardon said. “KTLA is known for its well-respected senior news team on its ‘News at 10.’ Our on-air news talent includes one person in his 70s, four people in their 60s, another person in his 50s and four people in their 40s.

“This verdict can only be viewed as an aberration by an L.A. jury. It is simply wrong, and we are appealing.”

Lentz said he was told in October, 1992, that his contract was not being renewed, but he stayed with the station on a month-to-month contract basis. Crakow said during that period, three or four reporters in their late 20s or early 30s were hired, including minorities.

“When I was fired, it effectively ended my career as a reporter,” Lentz said. “The award is in the middle range of what I could have earned as a reporter.”

As for his future plans, Lentz said, “I will start looking for another career, producing and reporting on a magazine show or the entertainment field. Maybe some voice-over work. But I don’t think I’ll be working for a news station any time soon.”