Matt Gutman dropped from harassment lawsuit by former producer

Samira Said, a former ABC News field producer, has moved to drop CBS News correspondent Matt Gutman and former ABC executive David Herndon from her ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit. In court filings, Said’s attorneys requested to dismiss the individual defendants without prejudice.

The agreement stipulates that while the claims against Gutman and Herndon are being dismissed, ABC News must make them available for depositions and facilitate their appearance at trial if subpoenaed. Additionally, the filing states that Said will not be questioned during legal proceedings regarding her decision to remove them from the suit.

The original lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleged that Gutman created a hostile work environment through inappropriate sexual remarks during assignments. Said had also named ABC and The Walt Disney Company in the complaint, alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. While Gutman has been removed as an individual defendant, Said continues to pursue her wrongful termination claims against the network and its parent company.