Judge Dismisses Wren Clair’s Lawsuit Against KSTP-TV

Attorneys representing former KSTP-TV meteorologist Wren Clair and the St. Paul-based television station filed a joint request on November 17, 2023, asking a judge to dismiss Clair’s lawsuit against her former employer. The stipulation for dismissal with prejudice indicates that the case cannot be refiled in the future.

Clair, who filed the lawsuit on August 12, 2023, under her legal name of Renee Fox, alleged that she experienced sexual harassment and retaliation while employed at KSTP. She contended in her lawsuit that her termination followed her reports of the alleged misconduct.

In response to Clair’s claims, KSTP stated in a legal filing on August 13 that Fox’s termination resulted from her “poor performance, on which she was repeatedly coached.” The station also denied that she had been subjected to any form of sex-based harassment.

The legal proceedings included a referral to mediation by Ramsey County District Court Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr. on November 17. The court documents do not clarify whether mediation took place or the reasons behind the subsequent joint request to dismiss the lawsuit.

Attempts to reach attorneys for both Clair and KSTP for comment were unsuccessful on Tuesday afternoon. Kirk Varner, former news director at KSTP, remarked, “While confident that I would have been able to defend myself against the allegations that were made, I am pleased that this matter has been resolved.”

Clair’s career path includes a notable stint as a morning show meteorologist in Boston, a major television market in the United States. She relocated to Minneapolis in 2018 after her husband received a job promotion. Following the retirement of chief meteorologist Dave Dahl in 2020, Clair was promoted to prime-time weekday evening meteorologist for “5 Eyewitness News.”

In February 2024, Clair was demoted and subsequently terminated. Her lawsuit claimed that the alleged sex-based discrimination and harassment occurred throughout her employment at KSTP.

In a new chapter of her career, Clair joined KARE-TV as a meteorologist in May. On September 3, 2023, she shared on Instagram that she and KARE-TV had mutually agreed to part ways. In her post, she expressed gratitude to her colleagues and viewers, stating, “I look forward to focusing more on my personal life and pursuing scientific careers outside of television.”

This case highlights significant issues within the workplace related to harassment and employee rights, drawing attention to the ongoing discussions about these matters across various industries.