CBS News’ Matt Gutman removed as defendant in ex-ABC producer’s workplace suit

CBS News Chief Correspondent Matt Gutman is no longer a defendant in the wrongful termination case accusing him of making a "sexual insinuation" toward a former ABC producer, Deadline reported.

The "48 Hours" lead correspondent, 48, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed against ABC on Aug. 14 by former field producer Samira Said, who alleged Gutman made a "sexualized insinuation" about her.

Said's legal team filed paperwork in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Sept. 4, asking the court to dismiss Gutman from her complaint. They did not explain the decision to remove his name from the case, though the allegations against him have not been dropped.

ABC and The Walt Disney Co. remain defendants in the case, with Said accusing the network of requiring her to work while she was on protected leave.

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS, ABC and Said's legal team for comment.

In the initial complaint obtained by USA TODAY, Said claimed she was placed on an all-male team that included Gutman and two other crew members. She accused Gutman of initiating a conversation while on assignment in which he rated a female correspondent’s appearance, "reducing her professional standing to a…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/