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Storm Clouds Over WeatherView: $100K Lawsuit Rocks Local Weatherman’s Side Hustle

From Suspension to Lawsuit: The Last Straws

When a Southwest Florida TV weatherman was let go in January, he called it a total shock. But court documents tell a far less dramatic story—one filled with warnings, suspensions, and a mountain of conduct issues that accumulated over months before his final dismissal.

Late arrivals, sneaking out early, and using company equipment for personal branding—these weren’t isolated incidents, according to the station. Instead, they painted a picture of repeated violations that left WINK with little choice but to cut ties. Now, the battle has landed in court, where the station is demanding over $100,000 in damages—plus a judge’s order to shut down the weatherman’s competing business completely.

WeatherView Inc.: A Side Hustle Born in Fog?

The fired weatherman didn’t take the news quietly. Within days, he fired back with legal papers, claiming the lawsuit was baseless—and that he now has 40 days to respond. His camp calls this the start of a fight, not an admission of guilt, even as his company, WeatherView Inc., races ahead with a Florida business license and a trademark filed for "WeatherView"—covering everything from forecasts to social media posts.

The big question? Was this side hustle active while he was still collecting a WINK paycheck? The station’s lawsuit insists it was, calling it a clear breach of contract. Yet, so far, court filings haven’t shown proof of sales during his tenure—leaving the financial stakes—and his defense—open to debate.

The Ultimate Demand: Silence and Shutdown

WINK isn’t stopping at money. Their legal request is all-encompassing:

• A permanent injunction to block all independent weather work by Devitt.
• Forced takedown of his social media channels.
• Protection for the station, its advertisers, and employees from what they describe as a legacy of reckless conduct.

With both sides digging in, the courtroom battle is just heating up—and the forecast for Florida’s airwaves is looking cloudier by the day. [/formatted_text/]