Former Florida television meteorologist Matt Devitt is seeking a court’s assistance to keep his casino gambling records confidential amidst a contentious legal dispute with his previous employer, WINK News.
Devitt, renowned as one of Southwest Florida’s most recognized meteorologists, argues that the records in question are private and irrelevant to claims made by the station after his firing earlier this year.
He garnered a massive online following by reporting on severe weather in Southwest Florida, becoming a household name during his nearly ten-year tenure at WINK. Devitt was let go on January 8, having built an audience of over a million followers on Facebook.
Many, including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, were surprised by his dismissal.
“WINK TV owes an explanation to the public regarding Matt Devitt’s situation. Many of us relied on him for trustworthy updates,” Gingrich tweeted. “What happened? We deserve an answer from WINK.”
Pressure Mounts
A lawsuit initiated by WINK’s parent company on March 30, Fort Myers Broadcasting Co., claims Devitt breached his employment contract by running a competing weather service, WeatherView Inc., during his time at the station.
WINK asserts that Devitt developed and profited from this side business while still working for them, and that elements of his social media presence were at least partially owned by the station.
In response, Devitt argues that his Facebook page, YouTube channel, and personal weather brand were completely his own creations and that WINK had celebrated his accomplishments until now, only to claim ownership following his termination.
His legal team contends that WINK’s demand for his gambling history constitutes an unwarranted invasion of his privacy and seeks “humiliating information that has no bearing on any claims,” as reported by Fort Myers News-Press.
On the other hand, WINK argues that these records could bolster their claims that Devitt frequented casinos during his scheduled working hours and that his termination was part of a broader pattern of inappropriate conduct.
Dark Clouds Ahead
Casinos typically gather information on patrons through loyalty programs, tracking visit histories, gambling activities, and in some cases, intricate wagering records. This data is generally classified as private but may be subject to court-ordered disclosure if it is determined to be relevant to ongoing litigation.
The court has yet to decide whether WINK can access the records during the discovery phase or if the request is overly extensive and irrelevant to the company’s allegations.
The involved parties are expected to participate in mediation before the case proceeds to trial next year.