On Aug. 16, 2017, plaintiff Jonathan Harris, 31, a black producer for One America News Network, a family-owned cable channel based in San Diego, was terminated from his position. Harris claimed that prior to his termination, he was harassed at work based on his race and his liberal political views, which differed from the network’s conservative leanings. He also claimed that when he complained about the hostile work environment, he was retaliated and ultimately terminated. Harris sued his employer, Herring Networks Inc.; subsidiaries Herring Broadcasting Company Inc. and One America News Network; Herring Networks’ chief executive officer, Robert Herring Sr.; Herring Networks’ chief operating officer, the CEO’s son, Robert Herring Jr.; and the host of the television show “The Daily Ledger,” which Harris helped produce, Graham Ledger. Harris alleged that the defendants subjected to racial discrimination and workplace harassment, which ultimately resulted in his retaliation and wrongful termination. Several defendants were dismissed from the case, and the matter ultimately continued against the elder Herring, Ledger and Herring Networks Inc. Harris claimed that as a result of his views and perspectives as a black male, Ledger subjected him to demeaning and berating comments during team meetings. He also claimed that there was a dispute in August 2017 over a news segment about the removal of certain Confederate monuments and that as a result, he filed an official racial discrimination complaint to the younger Herring. Harris alleged that as a result of his complaint, he was offered a position in another part of the company the following day. He further alleged that he agreed to the move, but first deleted some old show notes from the show. Harris claimed that there were complaints about him deleting the notes, which resulted in the elder Herring confronting him and ultimately firing him. Defense counsel contended that Harris performed poorly in his position and that Harris violated company policy by deleting the files. In response, plaintiff’s counsel contended that the alleged policy violation was a pretext for Harris’ wrongful termination., Harris claimed that he suffers from emotional distress as a result of the incidents and that he will need future therapy to talk about what happened and how it affects him. Harris obtained other employment seven months after the subject termination, and he moved to Washington, D.C. Harris sought recovery of past economic damages for his loss of earnings, and past and future non-economic damages for his emotional pain and suffering.