Robert Ovadia lodges unfair dismissal case against Seven
Former Seven News reporter Robert Ovadia has lodged an unfair dismissal claim against the network and its newly-minted news boss Anthony De Ceglie.
Ovadia was sacked by the network last month following allegations of “inappropriate conduct”.
The crime reporter then hired high-profile lawyer John Laxon, who confirmed over the weekend: “A general protections application against the Seven Network and Anthony De Ceglie has been filed.”
Ovadia was first put on leave in June while the network conducted an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving emails with a former Seven female employee.
“Any suggestion I have been inappropriate at any time is false, malicious and will be defended,” Ovadia said at the time, calling the allegations “malicious.”
In addition to the emails, Ovadia also reportedly responded to a male colleague’s request for “Dick pics” — relating to child sex charges against former Australian swim coach Dick Caine, a case Ovadia was covering in court — with an image of “an image of a flaccid penis”, obtained via Google search.
Ovadia is seeking compensation, and reinstatement to his job, which he held for 23 years.
The court case marks the latest controversy for the Seven Network, which recently endured allegations it paid for drugs, sex workers, and a year’s rent to secure an interview with Bruce Lehrmann, with Spotlight’s executive producer, Mark Llewellyn, leaving after in-court claims he “gave verbal approval” for the expenses.
“Seven takes very seriously any allegations in relation to sexual harassment, bullying and other behaviours deemed to be inappropriate within the workplace,” a Seven spokesperson told Mumbrella.
“We take complaints seriously, manage them confidentially and deal with any breaches decisively.”
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