EXCLUSIVE
The Seven Network has spent months compiling an explosive ungraded record of alleged claims against one-time prima crime newsman Robert Ovadia - with the ungraded present threatening to assertion erstwhile colleagues arsenic collateral damage.
It is understood the dossier is truthful extensive, Seven is preparing to 'draw a enactment successful the sand' and afloat perpetrate to warring the reporter's unlawful sacking claims contempt different circular of court-ordered mediation.
The revelation comes arsenic the web told the Federal Court connected Thursday that 13 much women had travel guardant with allegations against the Walkley Award-winning writer since helium was sacked successful June.
Ovadia has strenuously denied immoderate wrongdoing.
The seasoned newsman launched ineligible enactment against Seven connected August 9, claiming the broadcaster had breached the presumption of his declaration and had nary ground for axing him.
The 51-year-old besides claimed the network's recently minted quality boss, Anthony De Ceglie, deliberately made statements 'calculated to demean, offend and injure' him.
Seven is defending some those allegations.
Former Seven prima transgression study Robert Ovadia was summarily dismissed successful June pursuing a weeks-long interior probe into allegations of inappropriate conduct, which helium denies
The seasoned newsman had worked astatine the web for much than 20 years earlier helium was sacked
The courtroom play comes aft the Fair Work Commission failed to settee the quality done mediation six weeks ago.
Its effort to resoluteness the substance during a video hook-up betwixt the opposing parties successful July rapidly broke down, with Seven refusing to enactment successful immoderate further sessions.
Seven sacked Ovadia - effectual instantly - connected June 21 following a weeks-long interior probe that unearthed 2 instances of allegedly inappropriate behaviour by the newsman successful its Sydney newsroom.
Seven’s barrister, Vanja Bulut, told the Federal Court connected Thursday that they related to grounds Ovadia had sent 'inappropriate pictures by substance and email' to a young pistillate shaper and an representation of 'of a man’s genital' to a antheral colleague.
'Subsequent to the applicant’s dismissal, 13 much females came forward. The applicant has been enactment connected announcement to that,' Ms Bulut told Justice Elizabeth Raper.
'My lawsuit has written mounting retired the further allegations that person travel to light. Those documents person been provided to the applicant.
'Even if they (Seven) didn’t person a ground to chiefly terminate the applicant’s employment astatine that time, the behaviour that has travel to airy subsequently does supply a basis.'
Ovadia's barrister, Andrew, Gotting, said that portion his lawsuit had received immoderate of the material, galore of the particulars had been redacted.
It is understood Seven made the extended redactions to support the privateness of dozens of Ovadia's erstwhile colleagues - some antheral and pistillate - who present fearfulness being caught up successful the scandal.
Court told much than a twelve women person present travel guardant with allegations against Ovadia
Ovadia - who spent astir a 4th of a period astatine Seven - has continued to vigorously contradict immoderate proposition helium engaged successful inappropriate behaviour.
The newsman - who did not be tribunal - claimed the allegations against him were portion of a crippled to 'bully' him into dropping his lawsuit against his erstwhile tv employer.
'The claims are baseless and Seven has ne'er provided grounds contempt repeated requests,' helium said connected Thursday afternoon.
'Even successful tribunal today, nary grounds to enactment immoderate of this – conscionable a soiled maneuver to effort to bully maine distant from defending himself.'
Despite the parties troubled past with mediation, Justice Raper ordered a caller circular of talks - this clip successful idiosyncratic - betwixt the 2 sides, noting it was 'worth it to person a go' earlier the lawsuit returns to tribunal successful February.
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