Details Emerge In Suit Against Regular Guys

The Regular Guys

As ALL ACCESS reported yesterday (NET NEWS 10/19), Spanish WWVA (VIVA 105.7)/ATLANTA morning hosts JUAN "YOGI" TAPIA and JOSE "PANDA" CARIAS are suing CLEAR CHANNEL Rock clustermate WKLS (96 ROCK) morning hosts the REGULAR GUYS (LARRY WACHS and ERIC VON HAESSLER) as well the company itself, and now the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION's RODNEY HO is reporting that the suit involves an alleged bathroom stunt targeting the VIVA hosts and that TAPIA and CARIAS are seeking unspecified punitive damages. The REGULAR GUYS have been off the air since TUESDAY (10/17), with best-of shows airing instead.

HO reports that, according to the lawsuit filed in FULTON COUNTY superior court, WACHS on OCTOBER 9 taped a bathroom conversation between TAPIA and CARIAS while the VIVA hosts were in individual stalls; TAPIA and CARIAS did not know they were being recorded. The REGULAR GUYS then reportedly aired the recording on their OCTOBER 10 show. The suit claims the 96 ROCK hosts made "harassing statements regarding the race and sexual orientation of TAPIA and CARIAS."

CLEAR CHANNEL/ATLANTA Pres./Market Manager CHUCK DESKINS told HO that the matter was "an internal issue" and would not comment further. Neither he nor the plaintiffs or defendants were available for comment to ALL ACCESS at press time.

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