Originally posted on October 23, 2006 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Clear Channel fired 96rock's Regular Guys on Monday for the second time in less than three years, this time over a restroom stunt that resulted in a lawsuit.
Eric Von Haessler, part of the morning team, said they didn't do anything wrong.
"I've got the facts on my side," he said. "Clear Channel is a bully. They're big and they're arrogant. Goliath --- meet David. I will spend every penny I have to get justice in this case."
The radio company, the largest in the country, suspended the Regular Guys on Oct. 16. Three days earlier, Viva 105.7 morning hosts Juan Tapia (Yogi on the air) and Jose Carias (Panda) had sued the company and the Regular Guys in Fulton County Superior Court for unspecified damages. (Both Viva 105.7 and 96rock are owned by Clear Channel.)
Tapia and Carias said in the suit that Regular Guys co-host Larry Wachs secretly taped their conversations while they were in restroom stalls in the Clear Channel office building Oct. 9, then aired them Oct. 10.
Tapia and Carias also said they complained to management on numerous occasions about "incendiary comments" the Regular Guys made about their "alleged sexual orientation, race and nationality" but "these complaints have largely been ignored."
Von Haessler said Tapia and Carias must be "homophobic" because they were offended by some harmless jokes.
He also said there was supposedly an investigation during the week-long suspension but he was never interviewed.
Chuck Deskins, Clear Channel Atlanta market manager, provided an e-mail comment: "The Regular Guys were dismissed for inappropriate conduct affecting fellow employees."
"Clear Channel does appear to have taken the necessary steps to work out a resolution in the case," said attorney Jamie Hernan, who is representing Tapia and Carias. "We anticipate a joint statement being issued in the near future."
In 2004, Clear Channel took the Regular Guys off the air after some pornographic talk inadvertently aired over an advertisement.
The stunt at the time was meant to mock the Federal Communications Commission crackdown on indecency following Janet Jackson's breast exposure at the Super Bowl. The FCC investigated the Regular Guys but took no action.
Clear Channel paid the Regular Guys through the end of their contract that year.
They were rehired in 2005, first on WGST-AM, then back on 96rock in the spring.
The Regular Guys, who are known for sarcastic, lighthearted banter, have consistently finished in the top four among men in their target audience of men 25 to 54.
Von Haessler said he was "fired with cause" this time, which means he won't be paid.
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