Matt Gutman dropped from lawsuit is the latest development in a legal dispute involving a former ABC News field producer, but the broader case against ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remains active. The request to remove Gutman came just three weeks after former ABC producer Samira Said named him as a defendant in a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Said’s attorneys filed paperwork on September 4 seeking to dismiss Gutman and former ABC News executive David Herndon from the case without prejudice. The filing did not provide a public explanation for the decision. ABC and Disney remain defendants in the litigation.
The development changes Gutman’s position in the case. He was initially named individually after Said alleged that he made inappropriate comments during their time working together at ABC News. Those allegations remain allegations and have not been established as findings of fact by a court.
Why Matt Gutman Was Removed From the Case
Gutman became part of the lawsuit when Said filed her complaint on August 14, 2026. The former ABC field producer accused the company and several individuals of employment-related violations.
The complaint included allegations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to provide reasonable accommodation and wrongful termination. Gutman was among the individual defendants named in the original filing.
Said alleged that two workplace incidents involving Gutman contributed to what she described as a hostile work environment.
The first incident allegedly occurred while Said and several male colleagues waited in a public line during a work assignment. She alleged that Gutman started a discussion about a female correspondent’s appearance.
Said claimed the conversation involved assigning a numerical rating based on the woman’s physical appearance. She also alleged that other male members of the crew participated and attempted to involve her in the discussion.
According to the complaint, Said declined to participate and told the group that the conversation was inappropriate.
The second allegation involved a disagreement during a press event connected to a film release. Said claimed that she and Gutman disagreed about whether the team should leave the work site.
She alleged that Gutman responded with a sexualized comment about why she wanted to remain in the city. Said claimed the comment was made in front of coworkers and portrayed her professional judgment in a demeaning way.
These allegations appeared in the original lawsuit. They should not be treated as proven conduct.
What the New Filing Says
The September 4 filing is the central development behind the latest change in Gutman’s legal status.
Said’s attorneys agreed to dismiss the individual defendants and the claims against them without prejudice. Gutman and Herndon were specifically identified among those individuals.
The filing also addresses the availability of Gutman and Herndon for future proceedings.
Under the arrangement described in the filing, ABC agreed to use reasonable efforts to make the two former employees available for properly noticed depositions. The agreement also addresses the possibility of their appearance at trial if they remain within ABC’s control and receive valid subpoenas.
That detail matters because leaving the list of defendants does not necessarily mean a person has no further connection to a lawsuit.
Gutman could still become relevant to the case as a witness if the remaining litigation involves facts or events connected to his work at ABC.
The filing also contains provisions concerning questions about why the individual defendants were initially named and why they were later dismissed.
The latest public information does not provide a specific reason for Said’s decision to remove Gutman.
What Does Dismissal Without Prejudice Mean?
The phrase “without prejudice” has an important legal meaning.
A dismissal without prejudice generally does not carry the same final effect as a dismissal with prejudice. It means the claims against the individual defendants are being removed without the same type of permanent bar that can accompany a dismissal with prejudice.
That distinction makes it inaccurate to describe the development as a court ruling that Gutman was cleared of every allegation.
It also does not establish that the allegations against him were proven.
The current development is better understood as a change in who remains a defendant in the lawsuit.
The individual claims against Gutman are being dismissed without prejudice under the filing, while the broader employment dispute continues against ABC and Disney.
No public court finding has established that Gutman committed the conduct alleged in Said’s original complaint.
The Broader Lawsuit Is Still Active
Removing Gutman does not end Said’s lawsuit.
ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remain defendants. Said’s case continues to focus on allegations concerning her employment with ABC and the circumstances surrounding her departure from the company.
The complaint alleges that Said experienced workplace difficulties after dealing with serious health-related issues and seeking accommodations.
She also alleges that ABC failed to provide appropriate accommodations under California employment law.
The lawsuit further alleges that her employment ended in 2025 after a series of workplace events involving assignments, leave requests and management decisions.
Said is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorneys’ fees and other relief.
Those claims remain unresolved.
The removal of Gutman therefore represents only one part of a larger legal dispute between Said and her former employer.
Samira Said’s Employment Claims
Said worked for ABC News as a field producer for approximately four years.
Her lawsuit describes several workplace events that preceded her departure from the company.
Among the allegations are claims involving medical leave and requests for workplace accommodations. The complaint also describes assignments involving major news events and difficult field conditions.
Said alleged that her employment situation deteriorated after she experienced health problems and sought accommodations.
The lawsuit describes her work covering the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It states that she later sought time away from work because of the impact of the assignment.
The complaint also discusses her subsequent return to work and continuing accommodation requests.
Said later worked on coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025. The lawsuit alleges that her physical condition became a concern during the assignment and that she was eventually sent home.
The complaint also describes a later foot injury sustained during a weather-related assignment.
Said alleges that her employment ended on March 5, 2025.
These broader allegations remain part of the dispute with ABC and Disney. They are separate from the decision to remove Gutman as an individual defendant.
Gutman’s Role in the Original Complaint
Gutman’s inclusion in the original lawsuit attracted considerable attention because of his high-profile position in television news.
He spent 17 years at ABC News before leaving the network. He joined CBS News in 2026 as chief correspondent.
His CBS role includes reporting for major network programs and other CBS News productions.
Gutman also recently received attention after filling in as anchor of the CBS Evening News.
The legal case emerged shortly after his move from ABC to CBS, making the lawsuit particularly notable within the television news industry.
However, the September 4 filing changes his legal position.
Rather than remaining an individual defendant, Gutman is now being removed from the lawsuit under the terms outlined by Said’s attorneys.
Why Gutman’s Possible Testimony Still Matters
One of the most important details in the new filing is the provision concerning testimony.
ABC agreed to make reasonable efforts to provide Gutman and Herndon for properly noticed depositions.
The agreement also covers potential trial testimony if they remain within ABC’s control and receive valid subpoenas.
That means Gutman’s connection to the underlying events may not completely disappear.
A defendant and a witness have different legal roles. Someone can leave a lawsuit as a defendant and still possess information relevant to claims involving other parties.
That distinction is especially important in this case because Said’s remaining claims concern her employment at ABC.
Events involving coworkers, supervisors and newsroom personnel may remain relevant as the case develops.
Therefore, readers should not interpret Gutman’s removal from the defendant list as meaning that every reference to him has disappeared from the litigation.
No Public Explanation Has Been Given
One of the biggest unanswered questions is why Said’s attorneys decided to remove Gutman.
The September 4 filing does not publicly explain the reason.
There has also been no verified public statement from Said’s legal team explaining the decision.
That leaves several aspects of the development unresolved.
It would be inappropriate to assume that the dismissal resulted from a settlement, a change in strategy, a private agreement or another specific reason unless such information becomes public.
There is currently no confirmed public information establishing a separate settlement between Said and Gutman.
Likewise, there is no reported judgment finding Gutman liable for the allegations made in the original complaint.
The safest description is that the plaintiff has agreed to dismiss the individual defendants without prejudice while the larger lawsuit continues.
Gutman’s Response to the Original Allegations
Gutman has not publicly provided a detailed response to the allegations in the lawsuit.
A CBS News representative previously indicated that Gutman declined to comment on the matter.
That means there is no verified public statement from Gutman that establishes his position on each allegation in the complaint.
ABC and CBS also have not provided a public explanation for the latest dismissal request in the information currently available.
The lack of a public explanation makes it particularly important to separate documented legal developments from speculation.
The September 4 filing is clear about the requested dismissal and the arrangements concerning potential testimony. It does not provide a reason for the change.
Timeline of the Case
The recent developments have occurred over a short period.
- August 14, 2026: Samira Said filed her wrongful-termination lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
- August 2026: The lawsuit became public and included allegations involving Gutman and other former ABC personnel.
- September 4, 2026: Said’s attorneys filed paperwork seeking dismissal of Gutman and David Herndon as individual defendants.
- September 5, 2026: Reports confirmed that Gutman was being removed from the litigation while ABC and Disney remained defendants.
- September 6, 2026: The latest public status shows the individual claims against Gutman being dismissed without prejudice, while the broader lawsuit continues.
The speed of the change has made the case a closely watched development within the television news industry.
Gutman was named only weeks before the request to remove him was filed.
What Happens to the Lawsuit Now?
The central legal dispute does not end with Gutman’s removal.
ABC and Disney remain defendants, and Said’s allegations concerning her employment continue to form the basis of the case.
The next stages could involve discovery, depositions and additional court proceedings.
Gutman’s potential availability for a deposition or trial testimony could also keep him connected to the factual record, even though he is no longer being pursued as an individual defendant under the current filing.
The precise schedule for future proceedings has not been established in the latest publicly available information.
There is also no verified final resolution of Said’s claims against ABC and Disney.
As a result, any claim that the entire lawsuit has ended would be inaccurate.
What Readers Should Know About the Latest Development
The most important point is the distinction between Gutman’s removal and the continuation of the lawsuit.
Gutman was originally named as a defendant. Said’s complaint included allegations about two workplace interactions involving him.
Her attorneys have now moved to dismiss those individual claims without prejudice.
ABC and Disney remain defendants.
The filing also provides for reasonable efforts to make Gutman and Herndon available for depositions and potentially for trial testimony under specified circumstances.
No public explanation has been given for why Said chose to remove the individual defendants.
No court finding has established the allegations against Gutman as fact.
The broader lawsuit remains unresolved.
That combination of developments makes the current situation more nuanced than a simple dismissal headline suggests.
Current Legal Status
As of September 6, 2026, the confirmed position is straightforward.
Gutman is no longer being pursued as an individual defendant under the dismissal arrangement described in the September 4 filing. The dismissal is without prejudice.
Said’s claims against ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remain active.
The legal proceedings can therefore continue even though the individual claims involving Gutman have been removed.
His potential role as a witness is also addressed in the filing, meaning his departure from the defendant list does not necessarily end his involvement in the factual issues surrounding the case.
For now, the most significant unresolved question is the outcome of Said’s remaining claims against ABC and Disney.
The case has not reached a final resolution, and the latest public information does not establish a judgment on the allegations.
The latest development changes Gutman’s place in the litigation, but the larger dispute remains ongoing, so readers should stay informed as the court proceedings develop.