In a surprising legal reversal, a meteorologist in Minnesota has asked a court to throw out her high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit against her former television station. Wren Clair, whose legal name is Renee Fox, filed a request to dismiss her own case against KSTP-TV on Tuesday.
Shocking Allegations and a Sudden Withdrawal
The initial lawsuit, filed in August, contained a series of graphic allegations against veteran forecaster Dave Dahl. Clair claimed Dahl, a local TV legend who retired in 2020, subjected her to persistent harassment. The accusations included him repeatedly commenting on her body, discussing his sex life in explicit detail, complimenting the breasts of an underage waitress, and engaging in 'sex acts in public' at a company Christmas party.
Clair further alleged that KSTP-TV fostered a 'deeply ingrained culture of inappropriate sexual conduct and sexism' that protected Dahl, whom she described as 'untouchable' by network executives. She also named News Director Kirk Varner, accusing him of 'driving' the alleged sexist environment and subjecting her to years of sex-based double standards.
The Path to Mediation and Dismissal
The abrupt move to dismiss the case came after Clair and KSTP-TV entered into mediation on November 17, according to court records first obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune. Clair requested the dismissal 'with prejudice', a legal term meaning she cannot refile the same case at a later date.
In a statement released after the dismissal was accepted, News Director Kirk Varner said: 'While confident that I would have been able to defend myself against the allegations that were made, I am pleased that this matter has been resolved.' Attorneys for both Clair and KSTP-TV did not immediately return requests for comment on the mediation outcome.
Detailed Claims of a Toxic Workplace
The now-rescinded lawsuit painted a detailed picture of alleged misconduct. Clair, who worked at KSTP from 2018 until her dismissal in February 2025, claimed the harassment was compounded by male colleagues who would leave her with inaccurate forecast information, forcing her to scramble on air.
She also alleged she was pressured to wear tight dresses, scolded for dyeing her blonde hair brown, and given less favourable shifts than male peers. The network, in its original legal response, denied all allegations and stated Clair was terminated for poor performance, claiming she was 'repeatedly coached' and told to use less technical jargon.
Clair briefly joined another station, KARE11, in May but left shortly after filing her lawsuit. She stated on social media she was focusing on her personal life and pursuing scientific careers outside of television.
