WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut. Courtesy Photo

A 26-year-old former news producer at ABC affiliate WTNH-TV has sued the station's parent company, alleging it wrongly fired him after three women complained to management about his alleged sexual misconduct.

In his lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against Nexstar Broadcasting Inc., Micah Bailey says management automatically sided with two women, a reporter and editor who he said he kissed—but with their consent.

The women complained Bailey had inappropriate physical contact with them, but he claimed in his lawsuit that both women were flirtatious with him and that their physical contact was consensual. A third woman, a former producer, came forward at a later date and also accused Bailey of inappropriate conduct. But Bailey asserts he had very little contact with that woman, other than an innocuous message on social media.

WTNH-TV is the state's ABC affiliate and is based in New Haven. It had not named an attorney to represent it against the lawsuit. WTNH-TV's legal offices are based out of Nexstar's corporate offices, in Irving, Texas. Nexstar's general counsel, Elizabeth Ryder, did not respond to a request  for comment Monday.

Meanwhile Bailey, who claims several times in his 61-page suit that he was singled out because he is a man, cites 12 counts including gender discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and gender discrimination pursuant to the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act.

His accusers include reporter Amy Hudak, who made two complaints against Bailey. But the suit said her allegations were made with “malicious intent” and that the events she described never happened. Hudak told the station's human resources department that Bailey kissed her on the cheek and allegedly said that in Miami, where he is from, “that's how they act towards all of their friends.” Bailey said he never uttered those words.

“The second false claims Amy made to HR about plaintiff is, there was 'an unwelcome kiss on the mouth after we met for drinks on Feb. 17, 2018.'” Bailey maintained Hudak was openly flirtatious with him, that the newsroom knew this, and that “she consensually kissed him.”

Hudak has an unlisted home telephone number. She did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment left for her at the television station.

Management, Bailey said, didn't want to hear his account of what transpired, nor was it interested in seeing texts that would have shown no malice toward the women, the lawsuit said. Lisa Newell, the station's business administrator, “had already judged” him and “discriminated against him because he is male,” the lawsuit said. The complaint alleges Newell and management demanded Bailey apologize to Hudak, which he said he did under pressure. Newell declined to comment Monday.

The lawsuit, noting the #MeToo movement, said, “They were quick to judge, quick to demand plaintiff accept the blame, and quick to disregard the honest and truthful response to the accusations.”

The second accusation leveled against Bailey came from Alexandra Conroy, an editor at the station. Hudak and Conroy are good friends, the lawsuit said.

Similar to Hudak's complaint, Conroy made a claim of “unwanted physical contact” by Bailey, according to the lawsuit. Bailey also says the physical contact, which occurred after work hours in the station's parking lot, was consensual. Conroy did not respond to requests for comment left at both her home and work.

Bailey's suit alleges he'd wanted to show Newell messages from social media and dating sites, Tinder and Instagram, that he'd exchanged with Conroy, but that Newell wasn't interested. He alleges Newell and management treated him unfairly on both occasions because he is a man.

Soon after being issued a two-week suspension without pay, the lawsuit says, Bailey was fired based on the allegations of a third woman, a former producer who alleged she was sent questionable texts from Bailey.

“This was a completely false and ridiculous accusation because plaintiff has zero history” with the accuser “outside of a co-worker relationship/friendship,” Bailey's complaint alleges. “This new evidence was entirely fabricated.”

Representing Bailey is Fairfield solo practitioner Kirsten Schneider, who did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, prejudgment interests and costs, and attorney fees.

Judge Vanessa Bryant is scheduled to hear the case.