Former Adelaide TV reporter Amy Taeuber settles legal row with Seven Network over sacking
EXCLUSIVE: A legal row between a former Adelaide TV reporter and the network she claims sacked her weeks after complaining that a senior colleague called her a “lesbian” on her birthday, has settled.
A LEGAL row between a young former Adelaide television reporter and the network she claims sacked her weeks after complaining that a senior colleague called her a “lesbian” on her birthday, has settled.
Identical triplet Amy Taeuber, 27, sued the Seven Network (Operations) Ltd and former boss Graham Archer, claiming her dismissal came after a complaint she made against Today Tonight journalist Rodney Lohse, 43.
The former cadet journalist had alleged she was subject to a “retaliatory” investigation, that colleagues were asked to “dig up dirt” on her and her social media accounts were wrongly accessed.
Her “adverse action” claim was filed in the Federal Circuit Court after mediation through the Fair Work Commission failed in the wake of her sacking in July last year.
But in December, Judge Timothy Heffernan ordered the parties back into mediation, which was moved to a privately operated session in Sydney last week.
After the day-long hearing, the parties agreed to settle their dispute.
The terms of the deal remain confidential but it is believed it contains a financial settlement. It remains unclear whether the parties will fund their own costs.
Ms Taeuber, who hired leading Sydney workplace lawyer John Laxon — who has represented some of television’s biggest names — is believed to have sought up to $300,000 in damages and a finding she was wrongfully sacked.
The settlement now means the network, which had denied her claims, and Mr Archer, Seven Adelaide’s news and public affairs director, avoid a messy public trial.
A spokeswoman for the network confirmed all parties had reached “an amicable settlement”.
The case threatened to involve high profile presenters, such as TT presenter Rosanna Mangiarelli, senior executives and former staff, including sacked news director Terry Plane, as witnesses.
The deal will be viewed with relief by network chiefs as Seven battles the crisis surrounding chief executive Tim Worner, 55, over his workplace affair with former executive assistant Amber Harrison, 35.
When she went public in December with claims of drug-fuelled sex — refuted by the network — Ms Harrison said Ms Taeuber’s case had “weighed heavily” on her.
But Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes, last week publicly backed his “outstanding” CEO at a company results announcement while attacking Ms Harrison’s expense claims.
Ms Taeuber, a Grange-based journalist who has since moved to commercial radio, declined to comment. She posted a series of social media images from her “amazing” Sydney trip.
Mr Lohse and Mr Archer both declined to comment.
