Wren Clair Lawsuit 2026: Case Dismissed, Settlement Details, and What Happened to the KSTP Meteorologist
Quick Answer
- Wren Clair (legal name Renee Fox) sued KSTP-TV in August 2025 for sexual harassment and retaliation.
- The case was dismissed with prejudice in December 2025 after mediation. Terms were not disclosed.
- There is no settlement fund to claim from. This case is closed and cannot be refiled.
If you’re searching for the Wren Clair lawsuit, you’re probably wondering whether there’s money to claim or a settlement fund to check. There isn’t.
The case is over. Wren Clair, a former KSTP-TV meteorologist, filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against the station in August 2025. By December 3, 2025, it was dismissed with prejudice.
That means no public fund, no claim deadline, and no payout to chase. This article explains exactly what happened, why the case ended, and what it means for anyone who saw the headlines and wondered if they qualified for something.
The Facts
| Case | Fox v. KSTP-TV, LLC |
|---|---|
| Court | Ramsey County District Court, Minnesota |
| Case Number | 62-CV-25-6658 |
| Status | Dismissed with prejudice on December 3, 2025 |
| Fund Size | No public settlement fund. Terms not disclosed |
| Est. Per Person | Not applicable. This was an individual employment lawsuit |
| Claim Deadline | No claim process exists. Case is closed |
| Administrator | Not applicable |
| Proof Needed | Not applicable |
Is the Wren Clair lawsuit real or a scam?
The Wren Clair lawsuit is completely real. It was filed in Ramsey County District Court in Minnesota and covered by major outlets including the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press.
Wren Clair, whose legal name is Renee Fox, worked as a meteorologist at KSTP-TV from 2018 until February 2025. She filed her lawsuit on August 12, 2025, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
The case made national headlines. The allegations were detailed and specific.
But here’s what matters for you: this was an individual employment lawsuit. There is no class action. There is no settlement fund you can claim from.
If you see a website or social media post telling you to “file a claim” in the Wren Clair lawsuit, that is a scam. The case is closed and no claims process ever existed.
Key Takeaway: The Wren Clair lawsuit is real, but there is no money for the public to claim. The case was an individual employment dispute that was dismissed after mediation.
What is the Wren Clair lawsuit about?
The Wren Clair lawsuit is about sexual harassment, sex-based disparate treatment, and retaliation at KSTP-TV, a St. Paul television station.
Clair’s 30-page complaint alleged a “deeply ingrained culture of inappropriate sexual conduct and sexism” at the station. She claimed she faced years of offensive comments about her body and appearance.
The lawsuit named two key figures. Dave Dahl, the retired chief meteorologist, allegedly made repeated comments about Clair’s body, talked about his sex life in graphic detail, and engaged in other lewd behavior. Kirk Varner, the news director, allegedly made offensive comments and doubted whether viewers would “accept a lead female in a scientist role”.
Clair said she reported the conduct and was demoted in October 2024, then fired in February 2025. She claimed the firing was retaliation for reporting harassment.
KSTP denied everything. In its legal response, the station said Clair was fired “as a result of her poor performance, on which she was repeatedly coached”. The station also denied she was “subjected to sex-based harassment.”
How much was the Wren Clair lawsuit settlement?
The Wren Clair lawsuit settlement amount was never disclosed. The case was dismissed after mediation, and the terms are confidential.
Court records show the parties entered mediation on November 17, 2025. A few weeks later, on December 2, both sides jointly requested dismissal with prejudice.
Dismissal with prejudice means the case cannot be refiled. It is permanently closed.
When a case ends this way after mediation, a confidential settlement is the most common explanation. But the amount, if any, is not public.
| What We Know | What We Don’t Know |
|---|---|
| Mediation occurred November 17, 2025 | Settlement amount |
| Joint dismissal requested December 2, 2025 | Whether money changed hands |
| Dismissal with prejudice granted December 3, 2025 | Terms of any agreement |
| Attorney said “matter has been resolved” | Who paid what |
Clair’s attorney, Paul Schinner, said only that “the matter has been resolved”. KSTP did not comment beyond its earlier denials.
Reality Check: If someone tells you they know the settlement amount in the Wren Clair case, they are lying. The terms were never disclosed. Anyone claiming a specific dollar figure is guessing or trying to sell you something. There is no claim form, no administrator, and no money set aside for public claims.
Why was the Wren Clair lawsuit dismissed?
The Wren Clair lawsuit was dismissed because both parties agreed to end the case. The joint request for dismissal with prejudice suggests a resolution was reached outside of a public trial.
This is common in employment lawsuits. A professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law explained that parties often agree to a stipulated dismissal when they decide continuing the litigation is no longer beneficial.
Common reasons for this type of dismissal:
- A confidential settlement was reached
- Both sides decided the cost and risk of trial were too high
- The parties wanted to avoid public disclosure of sensitive details
- A mediator helped them find middle ground
The case never went to trial. No judge or jury ever ruled on whether the harassment allegations were true.
Kirk Varner, the former news director named in the lawsuit, issued a statement after the dismissal. He said he was “confident that I would have been able to defend myself against the allegations” but was “pleased that this matter has been resolved”.
Who is Wren Clair and what happened to her career?
Wren Clair is a meteorologist who worked at KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities from 2018 until February 2025. She left television entirely in September 2025.
Clair grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, and studied meteorology at Mississippi State University. She also holds a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.
Before KSTP, she worked as a meteorologist in Boston and Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
After leaving KSTP, Clair briefly joined KARE 11 in May 2025. She left that station in September 2025, just weeks after filing her lawsuit.
In an Instagram post announcing her departure from KARE 11, Clair said she was “focusing more on my personal life and pursuing scientific careers outside of television”.
Her career timeline:
- 2018: Joined KSTP-TV as a meteorologist
- 2020: Became prime-time weekday evening meteorologist after Dave Dahl retired
- 2024: Demoted, according to her lawsuit
- February 2025: Terminated by KSTP
- May 2025: Joined KARE 11
- August 12, 2025: Filed lawsuit against KSTP
- September 2025: Left KARE 11 and television
What were the specific allegations in the Wren Clair lawsuit?
The Wren Clair lawsuit alleged a pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation that spanned her entire employment at KSTP.
The complaint detailed specific incidents involving Dave Dahl, the retired chief meteorologist. According to the lawsuit, Dahl repeatedly commented on Clair’s body, telling her she had a “swimmer’s body” and looked “slim”.
The lawsuit also claimed Dahl talked about his sex life in graphic detail, complimented the breasts of an underage waitress, and engaged in public sex acts at a company Christmas party.
Clair alleged that Kirk Varner, the news director, made offensive comments about her appearance and clothing. The lawsuit claimed he voiced a preference for tighter-fitting outfits and complained when she wore pants instead of a dress.
When Clair reported Dahl’s comments, the lawsuit said Varner “excused Dahl’s conduct in a way that expressly referenced gender”.
The complaint also described an incident at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. Clair said she was groped by fairgoers during a live assignment and that the station ignored her warnings about inadequate security.
After she reported the harassment to HR in 2024, the lawsuit claimed she was demoted, then fired in February 2025. She was replaced by “a less qualified man,” according to the suit.
KSTP denied all allegations of harassment and said Clair was terminated for poor performance.
What does dismissal with prejudice mean for the Wren Clair case?
Dismissal with prejudice means the Wren Clair lawsuit cannot be refiled. The case is permanently closed.
This is different from a dismissal without prejudice, which would allow the plaintiff to file again. With prejudice, the door is closed for good.
For Clair, this means she cannot bring the same claims against KSTP again. The case is over in every sense.
For the public, it means there will be no trial. No evidence will be presented in court. No judge or jury will issue a verdict on whether the allegations were true.
The dismissal with prejudice is a strong signal that the parties reached an agreement. If Clair believed she had a strong case and wanted a public ruling, she would not have agreed to dismiss with prejudice without some benefit.
But because the dismissal was joint, both sides agreed to end it. That typically means a settlement with confidential terms.
What happens next in the Wren Clair case?
Nothing happens next. The Wren Clair lawsuit is closed. There are no upcoming hearings, no trial dates, and no claim deadlines.
The dismissal with prejudice was signed by Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr. on December 3, 2025. That was the final action in the case.
What this means for you:
- There is no settlement website to check
- There is no claim form to file
- There is no deadline to calendar
- There is no administrator to contact
If you were following the case because you’re interested in employment law or media news, the story is over. If you were hoping to claim money, there was never a mechanism for that.
Wren Clair has moved on from television. KSTP has moved on without her. The legal system has closed the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Wren Clair win her lawsuit against KSTP?
There was no winner or loser. The case was dismissed with prejudice after both parties agreed to end it, likely through a confidential settlement.
How much did Wren Clair get from the lawsuit?
The settlement amount was never disclosed. Any specific dollar figure you see online is speculation.
Can I file a claim in the Wren Clair lawsuit?
No. There is no claim process. This was an individual employment lawsuit, not a class action, and it is closed.
Is the Wren Clair lawsuit a class action?
No. It was an individual lawsuit filed by one person against her former employer.
What happened to Dave Dahl and Kirk Varner?
Dave Dahl retired from KSTP in 2020, before the lawsuit was filed. Kirk Varner left his role as news director and issued a statement after the dismissal saying he was pleased the matter was resolved. Neither was named as a defendant.
Why was the lawsuit dismissed?
The parties entered mediation in November 2025 and jointly requested dismissal in December 2025. The most common reason for this type of dismissal is a confidential settlement.
Is Wren Clair still on TV?
No. She left KARE 11 in September 2025 and said she was pursuing scientific careers outside of television.
Can the Wren Clair lawsuit be refiled?
No. The dismissal was with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled.
