Judges Skeptical About Chris Cuomo’s Arbitrator Bias Claim in $125M Wrongful Termination Case Against CNN: Report

(zz/John Nacion/STAR MAX/IPx/AP photo)

Several judges have taken issue with ousted CNN anchor Chris Cuomo’s claim that an arbitrator in his $125 million wrongful termination suit was biased against him, LAW360 reported on Wednesday.

It all started during oral arguments on Wednesday, as appellate court judges found fault with Cuomo’s assertion that an arbitrator for mediation service JAMS was “biased” by his former legal representation.

As LAW360 reported:

During oral arguments Wednesday, four of five panelists aired doubts about Cuomo’s arguments that JAMS arbitrator Stephen P. Sonnenberg was biased by his previous representation, scoffing at the idea that his former law firm’s work for CNN over 20 years ago tainted the arbitrator’s judgment and questioning why Cuomo only raised the issue a year into the case.

Cuomo’s bias claims were tossed last year, and summary judgment was granted to JAMS, the site reported.

Cuomo was fired as a CNN prime-time host in December 2021 after an investigation into how involved he was in helping his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), fight back against sexual misconduct allegations.

At the time, CNN said in a statement that Cuomo was let go following the “evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense.”

Cuomo’s lawyers had argued that CNN had full knowledge of his dealings with the ex-governor.

In May 2021, Cuomo apologized on his CNN show for advising his brother and said, “It will not happen again.”