The lawsuit, filed January 30, 2026 in San Diego County Superior Court’s Central Division as Tuazon v. Nexstar Media Inc. (Case No. 26CU005523C), was brought by former KUSI on-air personality Diane Tuazon. The complaint accuses Nexstar and Fox 5/KUSI executive Rich Goldner of creating what Tuazon describes as a hostile work environment that ultimately ended with her termination in September 2025.
The case arrives as Nexstar, already the largest owner of local television stations in the United States, faces growing scrutiny over consolidation in the San Diego market. As previously reported by SanDiegoVille, the company is seeking regulatory approval for a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, a deal that could place FOX 5 San Diego, KUSI, CBS 8 and CW San Diego under the control of a single corporate owner.
Nexstar Media Group is a publicly traded broadcast company headquartered in Irving, Texas, with major offices in New York and Chicago. Founded in 1996, the company has grown into the largest owner of local television stations in the United States, operating nearly 200 stations across more than 100 markets and reaching roughly 70 percent of American households.Against that backdrop, Tuazon’s lawsuit offers a rare window into the internal culture of one of the stations at the center of the consolidation debate. According to the 65-page complaint, Tuazon joined KUSI in September 2022 as a weather anchor under then-owner McKinnon Broadcasting. She alleges she thrived in the role until Nexstar acquired the station in 2023 and placed Goldner in a leadership position overseeing newsroom operations.
The lawsuit includes a serious allegation dating back several years before Tuazon joined KUSI. According to the complaint, while Tuazon was freelancing at Fox 5 San Diego, Goldner “used his position as Diane’s supervisor to lure her to a hotel bar, drug her, and sexually assault her.” The complaint further alleges that the following week Goldner called Tuazon into his office and “demanded that she delete all communications with him on her phone.”
Goldner later became Tuazon’s supervisor again after Nexstar consolidated operations between Fox 5 and KUSI. Tuazon claims the workplace environment deteriorated after she reported domestic violence incidents involving a former partner who also worked in San Diego television news. The complaint alleges that instead of receiving support from management, Tuazon was mocked, isolated and subjected to retaliation by supervisors and producers.
According to the filing, when Tuazon sought time off from work to obtain a restraining order against her partner, a producer allegedly “rolled her eyes and laughed in Diane’s face,” telling her she could not leave work to seek help and would have to do so on her own time.
The complaint also describes what Tuazon says became a hostile newsroom environment in which coworkers questioned the abuse she was experiencing. At one point, according to the complaint, Tuazon overheard colleagues on a newsroom microphone asking, “Why would she stay?” in reference to the relationship.
The lawsuit further alleges that newsroom leadership publicly confronted Tuazon over accusations that she had anonymously harassed coworkers. According to the complaint, during a newsroom meeting supervisors accused Tuazon of harassment in front of staff and warned her to stop talking or she would be “fired.” Tuazon says she attempted to explain that the messages were being sent by her former partner in an effort to sabotage her career, but the complaint alleges management refused to investigate the claims.
Tuazon also alleges sexual harassment from Goldner once he resumed supervising her following Nexstar’s acquisition of KUSI. The complaint states that Goldner frequently made remarks about Tuazon’s appearance, allegedly asking “how are the girls doing” while looking at her chest and encouraging her to wear shorter skirts while on air.
According to the lawsuit, Tuazon’s professional opportunities at the station began to decline after she reported abuse and sought protected leave related to medical care and legal proceedings connected to domestic violence. The complaint alleges Nexstar reduced her assignments, removed her from promotional opportunities and interfered with outside work she performed for Viejas Casino.
Tuazon also alleges incidents of newsroom sabotage. In one instance described in the complaint, she claims someone removed the batteries from her on-air clicker before a broadcast, causing the device to malfunction during a segment.
The lawsuit states tensions escalated in September 2025 when Tuazon’s attorneys sent Nexstar a draft lawsuit outlining allegations of discrimination and retaliation. According to the complaint, Nexstar terminated Tuazon three days after receiving the draft legal filing.
The lawsuit also alleges that Tuazon has struggled to find new employment since her termination. According to the complaint, Tuazon has interviewed for other news anchor roles, but alleges that “as soon as any prospective employer has contacted Nexstar, the job opportunity runs dry.”
Tuazon’s lawsuit accuses Nexstar and Goldner of multiple violations of California employment law, including wrongful termination, discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and disability, retaliation for protected leave, harassment, interference with economic relationships and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Tuazon is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and potential reinstatement.
Court records show the case is currently pending in San Diego County Superior Court and has been assigned to Judge Wendy M. Behan. A Case Management Conference is currently scheduled for July 24, 2026. According to the court’s Register of Actions, the parties have also filed a stipulation to participate in the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution process, which often includes mediation before trial. Tuazon is represented in the case by San Diego employment attorney Susan M. Swan of Swan Employment Law, according to court filings.
Nexstar has not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the lawsuit. The claims are allegations contained in a civil complaint and have not been proven in court.
The case adds another layer of scrutiny to Nexstar’s expanding presence in San Diego television news. The company already owns both Fox 5 San Diego (KSWB) and KUSI-TV, which currently operate out of shared facilities in Kearny Mesa. If Nexstar’s pending acquisition of Tegna is approved without significant divestitures, the corporation would also gain control of CBS 8 (KFMB-TV) and its CW subchannel.
Media analysts say consolidation in local broadcasting often leads to cost-cutting, newsroom restructuring and reduced staffing. While Nexstar has not announced layoffs at its San Diego stations, the company has recently eliminated positions at stations in other markets as part of broader cost-reduction efforts. For viewers, the outcome of both the lawsuit and the merger could influence not only who owns San Diego’s television stations, but how those newsrooms operate.
The Tuazon case is currently pending in San Diego County Superior Court and is expected to proceed through discovery unless it is resolved through settlement or dismissal.
SanDiegoVille has reached out to Nexstar Media Group for comment regarding the allegations and will update this story if a response is received.
Media analysts say consolidation in local broadcasting often leads to cost-cutting, newsroom restructuring and reduced staffing. While Nexstar has not announced layoffs at its San Diego stations, the company has recently eliminated positions at stations in other markets as part of broader cost-reduction efforts. For viewers, the outcome of both the lawsuit and the merger could influence not only who owns San Diego’s television stations, but how those newsrooms operate.
The Tuazon case is currently pending in San Diego County Superior Court and is expected to proceed through discovery unless it is resolved through settlement or dismissal.
SanDiegoVille has reached out to Nexstar Media Group for comment regarding the allegations and will update this story if a response is received.
Originally published on March 13, 2026.
