Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Texas) has reintroduced a bill, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, that would eliminate the clauses in many contracts, including for on-air personalities, that limits their legal recourse for workplace issues, and that is just fine with former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who has advocated strongly for legislation ending the practice.

Also Read: Gretchen Carlson Documentary Debuts

Carlson testified at a hearing on the issue and the bill in the House Antitrust Subcommittee Thursday (Feb. 11). She said she believed the bill would "change the landscape of the American workplace."

Back in 2016, Carlson sued her Fox News boss, Roger Ailes, alleging she had been fired after rebuffing Ailes's sexual advances and reporting workplace issues. Ailes died in 2017. Her actions helped prompt the #MeToo movement and, as she pointed out, opened a floodgate of allegations against Bill O'Rielly, Les Moonves, Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin and other media figures.

She told her legislator audience that forced private arbitration of workplace complaints is a harasser's best friend because it silences victims and the "secret chamber" of arbitration "perpetuates the systemic problem of protecting predators and pushing women out of the workforce."

Also Read: Gretchen Carlson Examines Sexual Harassment

She said that the result of arbitration is that "the woman will likely be blacklisted, demoted and fired from her job." Then there is the fact that there are "limits on discovery and no appeals," in that arbitration, and no legal precedent is being set since it is not taking place in a court. Then there is the fact that the proceeding is secret so no one at their place of employment will ever know what happened.

Roger King, senior labor and employment counsel for the HR Policy Association said he was the only witness who had been involved in arbitration. He said proponents of arbitration were not defending any form of sexual harassment. But he said he wanted to "level set" the issue by pointing out that Carlson didn't go through the process. "I would note I don't believe you ever went through the arbitration process. You were able to get your story out without any impediment and, indeed it made news, and news that was followed."

He said arbitration has many "positive attributes," including that it was quicker and less expensive.

He said said he would call the bill "The Forced Litigation Act," where employers would have more advantages. He said discussions of secrecy or confidentiality were "a total red herring."

Carlson countered that confidentiality was one of the key elements of her arbitration contract and that  that such a contract was an effort to prevent her from telling that story. 

CNN has slated a prime time town hall meeting on sexual harassment in the growing wake of accusations by dozens of people against powerful media figures.

The special, Tipping Point: Sexual Harassment in America, will air at 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.

The town hall will feature Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News Channel anchor, and Anita Hill, both of whom leveled allegations of harassment against high-profile men.

Also appearing on the show will be #MeToo founder Tarana Burke and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is backing harassment-related legislation.

The special will air on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International, and will be carried by CNN’s SiriusXM Channel 116 and the Westwood One Radio Network and stream live for subs at CNNgo and via mobile apps.

Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson has settled her sexual harassment suit against ousted Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, with 21st Century Fox paying what some estimate is an eight-figure sum.

Carlson had filed suit against Aliles in July, alleging he had repeatedly made sexual advances to her during her career at the channel, and fired her in June because she refused to sleep with him. While Ailes denied the charges, several other women have come forward since Carlson’s suit making similar allegations. Ailes resigned later that month after Fox conducted an internal investigation into the matter.

According to people familiar with the settlement, Fox will foot the entire bill. Ailes reportedly walked away from Fox with about $40 million when he resigned, essentially the remainder of his employment deal with the company, which was set to expire in 2018.

Carlson sued Ailes in part to avoid an arbitration clause in her contract with Fox, according to several reports. Ailes’s lawyers tried to have the case dismissed initially because they believed it violated that clause, but those efforts have obviously been abandoned.

“21st Century Fox is pleased to announce that it has settled Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit,” the company said in a statement.  “During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism. She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. We are proud that she was part of the Fox News team. We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.”

According to Vanity Fair, citing people familiar with the matter, 21st Century Fox will pay Carlson $20 million in the  settlement. The NewYork Times also reported Tuesday that Fox is in settlement talks with other women at the network.

"I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my Complaint. I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace," Carlson said in a statement. "I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen. All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded."

Fox News Channel responded to former anchor Andrea Tantaros’s sexual harassment lawsuit by saying her complaint is filled with falsehoods and should be resolved in arbitration.

In a filing with New York State Supreme Court, Fox News said “Tarantos is not a victim; she is an opportunist.”

Related:Ailes, Fox News Channel Hit With Another Sexual Harassment Suit

Former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes was forced out of his post after former anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit. Parent company 21st Century Fox launched an investigation that turned up other women with similar complaints.

Tarantos’ lawsuit named Fox News and several other senior executives at the network.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

21st Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch opened the company's fourth quarter earnings call Wednesday with a statement about Fox News Channel, which he noted "has been the news over the past few weeks."

He said the company "moved quickly and decisively to protect the business, protect its employees and protect the unique voice Fox News broadcasts."

He did not mention former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes by name. Ailes resigned last month after being accused of sexual harassment by former FNC anchor Gretchen Carlson.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Lawyers for Gretchen Carlson, whose sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes swiftly led to his departure, thanked the women who spoke out about sexual harassment.

"Within just two weeks of her filing a lawsuit against Roger Ailes, Gretchen Carlson's extraordinary courage has caused a seismic shift in the media world,” said Nancy Erika Smith and Martin Hyman in a statement.

“We hope that all businesses now understand that women will no longer tolerate sexual harassment and reputable companies will no longer shield those who abuse women,” the lawyers said. "We thank all the brave women who spoke out about this issue. We will have more to say in coming days as events unfold."

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Lawyers for former Fox News Channel anchor Gretchen Carlson, who has sued Fox News chairman Roger Ailes for sexual harassment, said they want Ailes to deny the charges under oath.

Ailes on Wednesday released a statementcalling Carlson’s accusations “false” and “defamatory.” He said that Carlson’s contract was not renewed because ratings were disappointing, not because she refused any alleged improper advances.

Carlson’s attorneys released a statement Thursday spelling out what they said were the ratings changes for Carlson’s FNC show, The Real Story With Gretchen Carlson. They said that despite being moved to a tough time slot and getting insufficient support and promotion, the show's ratings went up, and Carlson was successful.

Visit broadcastingcable.com to read the statement from Carlson’s legal team of Nancy Erika Smith and Martin Hyman.

21st Century Fox said it has begun an internal review of the sexual harassment charges made against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes by former anchor Gretchen Carlson.

Carlson alleges in a lawsuit filed in New Jersey that she was fired after she rejected Ailes's advances and spoke up about conditions in the Fox News Channel newsroom.

In a statement, 21st Century Fox said it has is “taking these matters serious,” but maintained it has “full confidence in Mr. Ailes and Mr. Doocy, who have served the company brilliantly for over two decades.”

At the same time Ailes released a statement of his own, denying the allegations.

“Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false," Ailes said. "This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit."

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Former Fox News Channel anchor Gretchen Carlson has filed suit charging that she was fired after being sexually harassed by Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.

Carlson is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

The suit, filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, charges that Ailes fired the 50-year-old Carlson because she refused to sleep with him and reported disparaging treatment in the newsroom.

Update:Fox Launches Internal Review of Ailes Allegations

She was let go the day her contract expired — June 23 — despite her show, The Real Story With Gretchen Carlson, being the leading cable news program in its afternoon time slot, the suit says.

"We believe that the evidence will confirm that Gretchen was fired from Fox & Friends for speaking up about demeaning and discriminatory behavior on and off the set," said Nancy Erika Smith of Smith Mullin, who is representing Carlson.

The complaint describes an exchange with Ailes during a meeting last September in which Carlson said she tried to discuss ongoing discriminatory treatment.

"I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you'd be good and better and I'd be good and better," Ailes allegedly told Carlson at the time, according to the complaint, which said he added that "sometimes problems are easier to solve" that way.

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.