Seven tries to block Amber Harrison case shifting to Victoria
Lawyers for Seven argue Amber Harrison forfeited her right to sue when she agreed to previous compensation.
- Published by David Knox
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Lawyers for Seven are attempting to block a bid to move Amber Harrison’s legal claims in the Federal Court in Victoria.
The former lover of CEO Tim Worner has lodged a claim in the Federal Court in Melbourne seeking compensation and penalties from Seven for alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act.
Seven’s barrister Andrew Bell SC described her case as “a classic case of the tail wagging the dog” and said most of the witnesses were based in Sydney.
He said that as the Supreme Court proceedings had started first then it should proceed.
Seven’s legal team argued that Harrison is “barred” from suing the company because she signed an “extremely broad” deed of release promising not to take legal action after her affair with Worner soured in mid-2014.
But Julian Burnside QC said Seven was a “national broadcaster” and it was “to say the least, very odd” for it to take a “parochial view” that the dispute had to be heard in a Sydney court.
Today a judge also rebuked him after comments his client was taking on “one of the country’s biggest boys’ clubs”.
“It was gratuitous, it was uncalled for, I’m not even going to tolerate that … in this court,” Supreme Court Justice John Sackar directed.
Meanwhile the Australian Financial Review has detailed expenses charged to Seven corporate cards after the pair stayed at Crown Towers in 2013, totalling nearly $1700.
Earlier this week The Australian published lengthy allegations about expenses incurred when Amber Harrison worked for UKÂ bathroom fittings company The Water Monopoly in 2001 after a fling with her former boss, Justin Homewood.
Harrison denied expenses were unauthorised saying, “Homewood and I had a fling. It ended. Quite clearly, he has held a very long grudge. I’m guilty of poor choices in men.”
Homewood’s accountant Jennie Staunton denied there was any Âpersonal relationship between Amber Harrison and Homewood, currently travelling in Mexico.
Source: The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review
6 Responses
Sounds like Seven’s head lawyer can’t be bothered flying to Melbourne?
Despite much of it’s programming and heritage coming from that city anyway.
Is anyone else sick and tired of this tit-for-tat saga being played out everywhere, surely there are much more important events to be looked at.
No, i think it is high time the toxic culture within organizations, and i am talking about any organization, is bought to light. MM, I understand that working for Seven and hearing this stuff will burn but we all make choices in our life.
It is disgraceful that a gag has been placed on her yet they are still free to sling mud. Actions have consequences and Tom needs to learn this, as does every other person who sexually harasses someone.
@wellinmyopinion ‘ we all make choices in our life’. I presume you meant both of the participants!
Absolutely. I have not heard allegations of any (metophoically speaking) guns being put to people’s heads forcing either party to do anything, well, except maybe to sign a contract.
Agree. Feel sorry for the family of the cheating man. And this woman allegedly had a fling with her former boss and also allegedly misused company money before working for Seven. And she is now supposed to be the one and only victim in this whole drama?