Alice Cleveland
Encyclopedia
Alice Cleveland is a former television home shopping host
on HSN and most recently an on-air vendor representative on QVC
.
She was fired from HSN shortly after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis
, a neuromuscular disease
; HSN maintained that her dismissal was based on the network's dissatisfaction with her hosting style, and because she appeared in an unauthorized infomercial
on another station. A court awarded Cleveland $495,000 in actual and punitive damages
, believing Cleveland's claim that she lost her job because of her illness
, which would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Home shopping host
A home shopping host is the on-air host that partners with guests on television shopping channels, such as HSN, QVC, and ShopNBC. The job of a home shopping host is to introduce new presenters and guests to the television audience, and help these guests explain the values and features of the...
on HSN and most recently an on-air vendor representative on QVC
QVC
QVC is a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping. Founded in 1986 by Joseph Segel in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, United States, QVC broadcasts in five countries as QVC US, QVC UK, QVC Germany, QVC Japan and – QVC Italy to 200 million households...
.
She was fired from HSN shortly after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
, a neuromuscular disease
Neuromuscular disease
Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that either directly, via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly, via nerve pathology, impair the functioning of the muscles....
; HSN maintained that her dismissal was based on the network's dissatisfaction with her hosting style, and because she appeared in an unauthorized infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
on another station. A court awarded Cleveland $495,000 in actual and punitive damages
Punitive damages
Punitive damages or exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit...
, believing Cleveland's claim that she lost her job because of her illness
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
, which would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
External links
- Jury verdict on TV firing reasonable, court rules St. Petersburg Times