ST. LOUIS – The parent company of St. Louis community radio station KDHX 88.1 FM faces a new lawsuit. It comes from a group of former DJs and volunteers who are pushing to remove the station’s board of directors after years of concerns with the station’s direction.

KDHX is a non-commercial and independent community radio station powered by donations from listeners, and it has served the St. Louis community since 1987. Two former DJs for the station, Stacy Bernard and Christopher Schwarz, formally filed the lawsuit Wednesday in St. Louis Circuit Court against the Double Helix Corporation.

The lawsuit alleges that the KDHX Board of Directors acted illegally or improperly on several occasions to undermine staff, volunteers, and donors, while consolidating control within the board. The lawsuit cited examples such as the board changing bylaws and retaliating against board members who opposed its actions.

Concerns over the station’s leadership have been ongoing for several years, mounting in 2023 when KDHX fired at least 13 volunteer DJs, and nearly two dozen others resigned in solidarity. Previous FOX 2 reports have also highlighted communication issues with management, underutilized resources, and a decline in public events that allow KDHX to raise donations.

The lawsuit aims to remove seven members of the KDHX Board of Directors, including President Gary Pierson, while also challenging the legality of bylaw changes made in 2018 and 2021.

“KDHX has been such an important part of the musical and cultural scene in St. Louis. It is truly a gem of independent media,” said Bernard via a news release from the League of Volunteer Enthusiasts of KDHX. “The St. Louis community (myself included) has been grieving the loss of so much over this past year. This is my attempt to hold the Board of KDHX accountable for its many failures and terrible decisions that have harmed so many and brought the station to the brink of financial ruin.”

FOX 2 has reached out to the KDHX Board of Directors to request comment, but we have not heard back as of this story’s original time of publication.