Veteran Channel 5 reporter Warren Wilson has hired civil rights attorney Melanie Lomax to press claims that the station is discriminating against him in salary and assignments, the Wave newspapers report today. Wilson, 69, has been with KTLA for 20 years without a promotion and has worked the last six months without a contract, the story says. Lomax told the Wave papers that the station added a special clause to his contract last year saying that he could be fired if he "complains or voices any displeasure with his assignments."

Other reporters were given assignments all over Southern California, but Wilson has always been relegated to the ‘black beat’ — drive-by shootings and general South L.A. mayhem,” Lomax said. “He has worked for Channel 5 for 20 years and has never received any kind of promotion and has watched non-African American reporters with less talent, experience and tenure with the station receive long-term contracts and greater opportunities...

Other veteran KTLA on-air personnel have been elevated, Lomax noted, pointing out reporter Stan Chambers, who has been at the station for 50 years, and news anchor Hal Fishman, a KTLA fixture for almost 40 years. The attorney said her client has been treated unfairly in terms of salary and compensation. “KTLA reporters with only 10 years tenure and who are white and non-African American are paid more than Wilson’s $135,000 a year,” she said.

Among Wilson's claims to fame is that some high-profile criminal suspects have chosen to surrender to him.