Amber Harrison prepares to hit back at Seven

The former lover of the Seven West Media chief Tim Worner could unleash a counter-claim against the company.

Amber Harrison had a relationship with Seven boss Tim Worner.

The former lover of Seven West Media chief Tim Worner could unleash a counter-claim against the company containing “scurrilous and scandalous” material that would compound the damage afflicting the broadcaster over its handling of the sex scandal.

Lawyers representing Seven and Mr Worner’s former lover Amber Harrison fronted the ­Supreme Court of NSW yesterday to debate whether an interim gag order on the former executive assistant should be made permanent.

It was revealed Ms Harrison was considering suing the company for damages over what she alleges are breaches of her contract.

Lawyers for Seven asked that any cross-claim being prepared by Ms Harrison’s legal team should be served but not filed — a move that would hide any of its allegations from public view until heard before court.

“We are concerned about scurrilous and scandalous ­material being included (in any cross claim),” said senior counsel for Seven, Sandy Dawson, adding that his client had “some ­bitter experience” with Ms Harrison’s past actions.

But while he agreed to ­expedite the case to a hearing, judge John Sackar said he was reluctant to suppress the details of Ms Harrison’s counter-claim.

“This is not a censorship issue. I am not going to sit here as a censor,” Justice Sackar said.

He said Ms Harrison’s lawyers had to file any counter-claim by March 16.

While both parties yesterday indicated they would attend ­mediation, a full hearing of the application for the permanent gag order has been assigned for a four-day hearing from July 10.

Ms Harrison has previously said Seven reneged on payments to her as part of a confidential termination deal worth more than $350,000. But Seven contends that it suspended payments only after she breached that deal by refusing to hand over information belonging to the company.