Former employee of 9&10 News Sidnei McCarty is suing the station’s parent company for discrimination. McCarty, known professionally as “Sid Simone” alleges that the station discriminated against her on the basis of race and disability.
According to court documents, McCarty was fired in 2023. She later filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, citing violations of the Civil Rights Act and Title VII.
The commission issued McCarty a right to sue letter in June of 2025. McCarty filed a lawsuit in Michigan's Western Discrict Court on Oct. 5, 2025.
In the suit, McCarty claims the station subjected her to unattainable workloads and racial stereotyping. She also says she was often pitted against her white counterparts.
She described an incident where she was falsely accused of using a new story about a black woman bringing a gun to work to intimidate her coworkers. McCarty also claimed that she was often denied the same opportunities her white colleagues were given, not allowed on broadcasts hosted by her white coworkers and was given tasks below her paygrade while the station needed all hands on deck.
The suit also claims the company denied her requests for leave and disability accommodations, causing McCarty to experience undue stress and health issues.
She alleges that the company deliberately ignored the multitude of complaints she filed as a result of the toxic workplace environment she experienced.
McCarty is seeking damages for the harm she says the company caused her health, professional reputation and earnings.
Heritage Broadcasting did not respond to our request for comment.
