Welcome to our latest post, where we delve into an ongoing legal dispute that’s been brewing within the radio industry. The case involves former employee, Fred Outten, and the well-respected Howard University’s radio , WHUR. Outten, who is an alumnus and Vietnam War veteran, alleges age discrimination at the hands of WHUR, claiming that he was let go due to budget constraints while younger employees received higher salaries. This controversy has resurfaced in 2025 as Outten has recently appealed his case, pointing to an alleged $150 Million discrepancy in WHUR’s financial records. Join us as we explore the intricate details of this case that has been unfolding for the past few years.
Legal Dispute Background
Heritage Howard University station WHUR is -on-bet” target=”_blank”> sued by former employee Fred Outten for age discrimination. Outten lost the case and has recently appealed his lawsuit where he states he was let go of because of, what the station states were, budget constraints, but he sites the station paid more to younger employees -debuts-in-memphis-on-107-1-kxht” target=”_blank”> he was terminated.
Financial Allegations
His suit claims there is over $150 Million unaccounted for at WHUR 96.3 FM Radio Station and on Howard University’s IRS 990 Tax Forms.
Outten’s Statement
He goes on to say…I a native Washingtonian and Howard University (HU) alumnus with honors who served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. As an older Howard University alumnus (class of 1999), a member of the HU Alumni Association, and military Army Veteran who has spent nearly 15 years on the campus of Howard University studying and working at both WHUT-TV and the WHUR Radio Station I feel totally betrayed by the leadership of my beloved University. I worked as a wage employee at a mere $15/hour for WHUR General Manager Millard James “Jim” Watkins for more than ten years, both at Howard University’s WHUT TV station where Mr. Watkins was Interim GM, and at WHUR Radio Station where he is the current General Manager.
Discrimination Allegations
For more than ten years, Howard University and GM Jim Watkins kept me on wage (in violation of Howard University’s personnel policy), denied me promotions, paid vacations, sick leave, annual leave, and paid holidays. On January 23, 2010, I filed an Age Discrimination lawsuit against Howard University/WHUR 96.3 FM Radio Station, in the DC Superior Court under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act (DCHRA). Outten lost the case and filed on appeal in March of 2025.
#musicindustry #radiostation #WHUR #HowardUniversity #agediscrimination
