Denver Radio: KHOW's Tom Martino Sues KDVR-TV

Tom Martino

KHOW 630 AM personality Tom Martino has filed suit against former employer Fox31-KDVR television in federal court for ending his employment when he filed for personal bankruptcy protection in 2011, according to The Denver Post.

Initially filed in August, Martino, 59, claims in the lawsuit that the station dropped him and his new Martino TV segment when it learned he was filing for bankruptcy, a move the self-proclaimed troubleshooter said violated federal law protections against such conduct.

The station, in response to the claim, said it simply did not renew its contract with Martino, saying his personality was “too strong” for the direction it wanted to go and it wanted a host with “less personality.” That Martino filed for bankruptcy had nothing to do with it, according to the case filed in U.S. District Court in Denver.

Individuals who filed for bankruptcy protection are protected by federal law from employers who toss them as a result. KDVR and its owner, Community Television of Colorado, say the law only applies to firings that come after bankruptcy has been filed and cited case law to support that defense.

Martino’s lately made news with his arrest on a domestic-violence charge Dec. 20 involving his 45-year-old troubleshooting-partner wife, Holly Martino. Martino allegedly punched her in the face, leaving her with a bloody nose as there were in the car. He faces a Denver County Court hearing on March 5 on the misdemeanor charge, including another for disturbing the peace, court records show.

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