Lane, 35, was "released from her contract effective immediately" because "it would be impossible for Alycia to continue to report the news as she, herself, has become the focus of so many news stories," said Michael Colleran, president and general manager of CBS 3, in a statement issued before its 4 p.m. newscast yesterday.
The station acted "after assessing the overall impact of a series of incidents resulting from judgments she has made," Colleran said.
Lane was paid nearly $800,000 per year, according to station sources, and was under contract until September 2011.
Shortly after the station's announcement, Lane's lawyer, Paul Rosen, came roaring back.
"The conduct of [CBS 3] is contrary to the terms of her [Lane's] employment contract, which has many additional years remaining," Rosen said.
"The termination comes at a time when there has been absolutely no determination that Alycia is guilty of any wrongful conduct, and after [CBS 3] has aired her categorical denial of the alleged charge that is pending against her," Rosen said in his statement.
Lane's firing "is unfair," Rosen said, because the anchor never got the chance to defend herself against the charge pending in New York. She also wanted to tell her side of the story publicly, before CBS 3 took "this unusual and unwarranted step" to fire her, Rosen said. He added that "on the advice of counsel, Alycia cannot talk about these matters" because of the pending case in New York.
Rosen could file a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the station as early as today, say sources close to the situation. However, Rosen did not return e-mails or phone calls from the Daily News yesterday regarding his intentions to file such a suit.
The Daily News first reported Lane's arrest on PhillyGossip.com. On Dec. 16, she was charged with one count of assault with intent to cause physical injury to an officer.
