Howard Stern is preventing to dismiss a $2.5 million lawsuit filed by his former govt assistant, who accused him and his spouse, Beth Stern, of fostering a hostile work setting.
The shock jock has labeled the case a “shakedown” and insists the dispute facilities on legitimate confidentiality agreements he claims she knowingly acknowledged.
The lawsuit, which additionally particulars alleged office strain and a sudden termination regardless of guarantees of a elevate and bonus, has reignited scrutiny surrounding Howard Stern’s office practices.
Stern has requested a courtroom to throw out a $2.5 million lawsuit filed by his former govt assistant and his spouse, Beth, calling the case a “shakedown” and a “clear sham.”
In authorized paperwork obtained by Page Six, the 72-year-old radio host pushed again strongly, saying he has no intention of turning the matter right into a public spectacle.
His legal professional, Ilene Farkas, mentioned the couple is just attempting to uphold “non-disclosure agreements signed by workers who enter their dwelling and their non-public life.”
The dispute facilities on non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, which the previous assistant, who started working for Howard in 2022 as an workplace supervisor earlier than later turning into his govt assistant, claims she by no means correctly signed.
She is asking the courtroom to invalidate these agreements so she will reply publicly to “accusations made towards her, and shield her popularity and future employment prospects.”
Howard’s authorized staff, nonetheless, insists that data, together with emails they are saying affirm her acknowledgment of the agreements, show in any other case. In addition they argue she was proven this proof earlier than submitting her go well with.
The Shock Jock Claims Former Assistant Filed Lawsuit To Safe ‘Outlandish’ Settlement
In response to Howard’s submitting, the lawsuit is an try and strain him and his spouse into an “outlandish” settlement following her termination earlier this 12 months.
The paperwork preserve that the “sole cause Kuhn’s termination has develop into a matter of public report is that Kuhn and her counsel selected to publicize it,” and deny any claims of a smear marketing campaign or reputational hurt.
“There was no smear marketing campaign, no precise or threatened disclosure, and no reputational assault. None,” the submitting states, including that Howard had no plans to remark publicly on her departure and supposed to supply solely impartial job references.
The Disgruntled Former Worker’s Lawyer Has Slammed The Dismissal Request
Kuhn’s legal professional, John J. Leonard, has since rejected the dismissal try, telling Web page Six they “vigorously oppose” the brand new submitting.
Leonard famous that they don’t see it as a “risk to Ms. Kuhn’s claims, factually or legally,” and steered that the introduction of extra NDA claims may very well widen the authorized battle fairly than resolve it.
The legal professional mentioned, “We anticipate that the shock unveiling of yet one more alleged NDA on the eleventh hour will solely develop litigation, not curtail it as supposed.”
Howard Stern Lawsuit Renews Scrutiny Over Office Claims And Former Employees Complaints
In her authentic grievance, Kuhn accused Howard and Beth of fostering a hostile work setting, claiming she confronted “immense strain” whereas overseeing the couple’s Hamptons property and helping Beth with what she described as a large-scale cat rescue and fostering operation run from the house.
Court docket paperwork additionally state that Kuhn allegedly acquired a letter from Howard’s manufacturing firm in December 2025 informing her that her wage would improve to $265,000 and that she would obtain a further $80,000 bonus in 2026. Regardless of that, she claims she was terminated simply two months later, in February.
The lawsuit has additionally introduced renewed consideration to Howard Stern’s office popularity following remarks made by former staffers in Vice TV’s 2023 docuseries “Darkish Facet of the 2000s Shock Jocks.”
Within the documentary, a number of former members of “The Howard Stern Present” described what they seen as tough working circumstances behind the scenes in the course of the present’s most profitable years.
Howard Stern’s Former Employee Claims He Underpaid Employees Regardless of Making ‘Numerous Hundreds of thousands’
Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, who labored as a author and on-air character from 1983 to 2001, claimed many staffers had been underpaid regardless of Howard incomes “numerous tens of millions of {dollars}.”
“It was scary what was occurring,” Martling mentioned within the documentary earlier than including, “There was a lot cash coming in. It was loopy the amount of cash.”
Martling steered that wage disputes finally led to his departure from the present, criticizing Howard for refusing to extend his pay regardless of their lengthy working relationship and friendship.
“You’re past wealthy and profitable, and you’ve got somebody sitting subsequent to you who makes you take pleasure in that job far more. And also you allow them to go?” Martling mentioned. “As a result of he requested for extra money? Particularly while you’re buddies. It boggles the thoughts.”
