Matt Gutman ABC Lawsuit Dismissed? What Happened and What It Means

• Matt Gutman’s attorneys did not win a court ruling clearing him; the plaintiff’s lawyers asked to remove him as an individual defendant without prejudice.
• The broader lawsuit against ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remains active, according to the latest reports.
• The filing does not establish a settlement, admission of wrongdoing, finding of liability or final resolution of the underlying allegations.

What happened with the Matt Gutman ABC lawsuit?

The headline circulating online can be misleading. Matt Gutman has not been cleared after a judge ruled in his favor, and the entire lawsuit has not been dismissed.

Instead, attorneys for Samira Said, a former ABC News field producer, filed paperwork on September 4, 2026, asking to dismiss Gutman and former ABC News executive David Herndon from the case without prejudice. The filing said the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the individual defendants and the claims against them without prejudice.

That is why some reports describe Gutman as being “dropped” from the lawsuit. The more precise description is that Said’s lawyers sought to remove him as an individual defendant while continuing the case against ABC News and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company.

As of September 6, 2026, the publicly reported development does not show that a court has issued a final ruling on the entire lawsuit.

Why was Matt Gutman named in the first place?

Said filed the wrongful-termination lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on August 14, 2026. The complaint focused primarily on her employment at ABC News, including allegations involving medical issues, workplace accommodations and her termination in 2025.

Gutman was named because Said alleged that he contributed to a hostile work environment during assignments they worked on together at ABC. The complaint described two alleged incidents involving inappropriate or sexualized workplace comments.

According to reporting about the complaint, one incident involved a discussion about rating a female correspondent’s appearance. Said alleged that the conversation took place while she was working with Gutman and other male crew members and that she was encouraged to participate.

The complaint also alleged that Gutman made a sexualized insinuation during a disagreement about whether the crew should leave a work site. These are allegations contained in a civil lawsuit, not facts established by a court. Gutman declined to comment through a CBS News representative, according to reports.

What does “dismissed without prejudice” mean?

“Without prejudice” is an important legal phrase. It generally means the claims against a particular defendant are being removed without a final decision on whether those claims were legally or factually valid.

In practical terms, it is different from a dismissal with prejudice. A dismissal with prejudice usually prevents the same claims from being brought again. A dismissal without prejudice does not carry that same finality, although the exact consequences depend on the filing, any court order and applicable procedural rules.

For readers following this case, the safest interpretation is:

• Gutman is being removed from the case as an individual defendant.
• The filing does not amount to a finding that the allegations were true or false.
• It does not, by itself, prove that Gutman paid money or reached a private settlement.
• It does not mean the broader lawsuit against ABC and Disney is over.

Is the entire lawsuit against ABC and Disney over?

No. The latest reports say ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remain defendants.

Said’s broader claims concern alleged wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, failure to provide reasonable accommodation and related employment issues. The case may continue through additional filings, discovery, depositions and possible motions by the remaining defendants.

The dismissal request also appears to address Gutman’s potential involvement as a witness. Removing him from the defendant list does not necessarily mean he will have no further connection to the factual dispute. The filing reportedly includes provisions concerning reasonable efforts to make Gutman and Herndon available for depositions or trial testimony if necessary.

Why did Said’s lawyers remove Gutman?

No publicly confirmed explanation has been provided for why Said’s attorneys chose to dismiss the individual defendants at this stage.

It would be speculation to say the move proves a settlement, a legal weakness in the claims or a change in Said’s account. A plaintiff may remove individual defendants for many strategic or procedural reasons, including focusing the case on the employer, simplifying the litigation or pursuing claims that are more directly tied to the company.

The September 4 filing, as described in published reports, does not announce a separate financial settlement with Gutman. It also does not report that Gutman admitted wrongdoing or that a judge found no merit to the accusations.

What does the development mean for Matt Gutman and CBS News?

Gutman left ABC News after a long career with the network and joined CBS News in January 2026. He has since served as a CBS News chief correspondent and received additional attention after filling in as anchor of the CBS Evening News.

The lawsuit attracted more attention because Gutman remains a visible national television journalist. Still, the latest legal filing does not establish that CBS News has taken disciplinary action against him, changed his assignment or ended his employment.

It is also important not to confuse his removal as a defendant with a court-ordered exoneration. The filing changes his position in the lawsuit, but it does not resolve every factual question raised in the original complaint.

United States and Canada: Does this affect Canadian viewers?

This is a United States case filed in Los Angeles County, California. There is no indication in the latest reporting of a separate Canadian lawsuit involving Gutman or ABC News over the same allegations.

Canadian viewers may encounter the story through CBS, ABC-related coverage or social media, but the legal process is governed by California procedure. Terms such as “without prejudice,” “wrongful termination” and “hostile work environment” should therefore be understood in the context of a California civil case rather than Canadian employment law.

What happens next?

The next meaningful developments are likely to involve the remaining claims against ABC and Disney. The court may enter or process the dismissal of the individual defendants, while the corporate defendants continue responding to Said’s allegations.

Future filings could clarify whether the dismissal has been formally entered, whether the complaint will be amended and how the remaining claims will proceed. Until then, it is inaccurate to say that the entire ABC lawsuit was dismissed.

The most accurate status as of September 6, 2026, is that Said’s attorneys sought to remove Matt Gutman and David Herndon from the case without prejudice, while the lawsuit against ABC News and Disney remains unresolved.

Helpful Links

• Los Angeles Superior Court – Use the official court site to search Los Angeles County civil case information and docket updates.
• Los Angeles Times report on the dismissal request – Read the latest reported details about the request to remove Gutman from the lawsuit.
• TheWrap report on the court filing – Review the reported filing language and the status of the remaining defendants.
• California Courts self-help resources – Learn how California civil cases, filings and court procedures generally work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Was Matt Gutman found not liable in the ABC lawsuit?

A. No. The latest development is a request to dismiss him as an individual defendant without prejudice. That is not a trial verdict, a finding of no liability or a judicial determination that the allegations were false.

Q. Did Matt Gutman settle with Samira Said?

A. There is no verified public indication of a separate settlement involving Gutman. The reported filing seeks dismissal of the individual defendants without prejudice, but it does not publicly establish that money was paid or that Gutman admitted wrongdoing.

Q. Is Samira Said’s lawsuit against ABC News still active?

A. Yes. The latest reports say ABC News and The Walt Disney Company remain defendants. The broader wrongful-termination and employment-related claims have not been finally resolved.

Q. Can Matt Gutman still be involved in the case?

A. Possibly. Although he is being removed as an individual defendant, the reported filing addresses efforts to make him available for a deposition or possible trial testimony. His role could therefore change from defendant to potential witness.

Q. Why are reports calling the case dismissed if the lawsuit continues?

A. The wording refers to the dismissal of claims against Gutman and another individual defendant, not the entire lawsuit. The more accurate description is that the individual defendants are being dismissed without prejudice while the claims against ABC and Disney continue.