CBS News correspondent Matt Gutman has been named in a lawsuit filed by Samira Said, a former ABC News field producer, who alleges harassment and discrimination during her time at the network.

Court documents filed Friday, August 14, in Los Angeles County Superior Court name ABC News, Gutman and other defendants. According to the lawsuit, Said was assigned to a male-dominated field team that included Gutman and two other male crew members.

The lawsuit alleges that during one assignment, Gutman initiated a conversation in which a female correspondent’s appearance was rated based on her physical attributes. According to Said’s complaint, other male crew members joined the discussion and attempted to involve her. Said allegedly declined to participate and said the conversation was inappropriate.

Said also alleges that Gutman made a sexualized remark during another assignment after a disagreement over whether the team should leave a work site. The complaint claims Gutman suggested in front of colleagues that Said had an after-hours date and that this was the reason she did not want to relocate.

Beyond the harassment allegations, the lawsuit accuses ABC News of discrimination and retaliation related to Said’s medical leave and accommodation requests.

According to the complaint, Said was on medical leave from August 2022 through January 2023. After returning, she allegedly requested workplace accommodations but claims ABC News did not provide them. The lawsuit says Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon told Said she would need to return without restrictions and be available for a full workweek in order to resume her previous role.

Said claims that she was subsequently moved to weekend desk shifts in March 2023, which she characterizes as a demotion.

The lawsuit further alleges that Said was fired by ABC News in March 2025, shortly after suffering a workplace injury while covering severe weather. According to the complaint, heavy equipment struck her foot, causing a bone contusion. Said claims she reported the injury to her supervisors and was evaluated by a Disney physician, who determined that she did not need to take leave.

Said is seeking monetary damages. Her claims include alleged discrimination based on gender or sex, ancestry and disability, as well as failure to provide reasonable accommodation, hostile work environment harassment and retaliation.

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. Gutman, ABC News and CBS News did not immediately respond to TV Insider’s requests for comment.

The lawsuit comes shortly after Gutman drew attention for filling in on CBS Evening News for Tony Dokoupil, with the program recording its strongest ratings in 17 weeks during his stint.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/