afparent Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200706281738DOWJONESDJONLINE001079_FORTUNE5.htm NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- A Bronx, N.Y., make-up artist filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit on Thursday against Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS) ESPN Inc., a Washington, D.C., production company and several members of ESPN2's cancelled "Cold Pizza" morning television program. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, Rita Ragone alleged the " sexually charged atmosphere" on the "Cold Pizza" set in Manhattan created a hostile work environment and that she was sexually harassed by Jay Crawford, one of the hosts of "Cold Pizza," and Woody Paige, one of the show's frequent panelists. Ragone alleged she frequently complained about their behavior, but was told by an ESPN production executive that Paige and Crawford were "untouchable" and told to "keep quiet" by the general manager for Atlantic Video, a Washington production company that produces the show for ESPN. "The sexual harassment Ms. Ragone endured during almost her entire length of employment with Atlantic Video for ESPN Cold Pizza was pervasive and open," the lawsuit said. "ESPN supervisors and other ESPN Cold Pizza talent repeatedly witnessed the sexual harassment and condoned the repulsive behavior of defendants Paige and Crawford." The final episode of "Cold Pizza" aired in May, the lawsuit said. Ragone, who worked as a make-up artist for Atlantic Video from February 2005 to April 2006, claims it was apparent Paige and Crawford had engaged in similar sexual harassment towards other female employees, but the behavior "was not only ignored, but considered humorous by Atlantic Video and ESPN management." According to the lawsuit, Ragone alleged that she endured harassing behavior on a daily basis, including vulgar and obscene sexual proposals, Paige grabbing her buttocks several times despite her objections and Crawford, on one occasion, forcing her into the corner of a room and telling her "he wanted her." The lawsuit said Ragone contemplated leaving on several occasions due to the harassment, but she was dependent on the steady income from her job to care for her mother, who suffers from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and other health problems. She was eventually terminated by Atlantic Video in April 2006, according to the lawsuit. "This suit is without merit and we deny the allegations," said Mike Soltys, an ESPN spokesman. In a separate statement, Ed Milligan, president of Atlantic Video, said, "This lawsuit is without merit, and we deny the allegations. This matter will be vigorously defended." -By Chad Bray, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-227-2017; chad.bray@dowjones.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Seems like this is the norm for ESPN. Definitely a boy's club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I guess that show sucked more than I had originally thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 This sounds to me like an employee bitter about being fired. Why did she file the suit this many months after being terminated? Why did she not sue them while she was there? Doesn't add up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb4348 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thread is pointless without pics of the victim lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the krabber Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 you ask. i deliver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koolblue13 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 you ask. i deliver. Wacka Wacka, Hubba Hubba!!!Looks much better without Woody Paige hanging all over her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick86L Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thats not her, if you look at the page of the first picture on google which you used the girl is named Brittanie Mountz and it was posted by "rita" which is why it showed up on google... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick86L Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 not many pics of her this was the best i could find... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEavyJumbo85 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 she kind of looks like a nut job :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nace14 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 i thought jay crawford was...well...you know...not that there's anything wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 well, It's really not surprising if true. You kinda have to assume stuff like this will happen if you work for ESPN. However, I hope it is true cause I truly hate ESPN and would like some part of it to suffer at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick86L Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 why doesn't Jay Crawford just hit up Dana Jacobson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanos Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 ESPN is a hotbed for this type of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sacase Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 she kind of looks like a nut job :2cents: Damn, that is the exact same thing I was thinking also! As soon as I saw her I thought, she looks crazy....deranged.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 If they did it and management ignored it, they should pay. That's how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the krabber Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thats not her, if you look at the page of the first picture on google which you used the girl is named Brittanie Mountz and it was posted by "rita" which is why it showed up on google...whoops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tizzod Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I would much rather grab the girl in the first picure's ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick86L Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I would much rather grab the girl in the first picure's ass. Quoted for Truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjcdaman Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 why doesn't Jay Crawford just hit up Dana Jacobson? Because she's hideous?:whoknows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkforhall Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I would much rather grab the girl in the first picure's ass. Yes, but she's still a decent piece of ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herrmag Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 If she went to management, and management essentially told her to shut up, then they deserve to be sued. Imagine if it was your mother, sister, wife, etc..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenaa Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 If they did it and management ignored it, they should pay. That's how it works. Agreed 100%, but why wait until after the show is cancelled? Why would she continue to subject herself to something that was bothering her so much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEavyJumbo85 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 If she went to management, and management essentially told her to shut up, then they deserve to be sued. Imagine if it was your mother, sister, wife, etc..... no offense, but i'm hoping my mother, sister or wife would let me know and I would personally beat the crap out of Woody Page, heck they probably could beat the crap out of Woody Page themselves. :handicap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Agreed 100%, but why wait until after the show is cancelled? Why would she continue to subject herself to something that was bothering her so much? Fear maybe? Some people have really bad financial situations and they are afraid that they'll lose their jobs. Once that fear was removed it could have triggered her to take action. Then again they may have been another catalyst, perhaps the way in which she was let go was viewed by her as the "last straw". There could be any number of reasons. We also don't know when she got a lawyer and how long they've been building their case. Or... it could all be BS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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