Veteran TV reporter Robert Ovadia is expected to face allegations from a further 13 women as he sues Network Seven and its news boss over allegations he was unlawfully sacked. The well-known 7News Sydney journalist launched civil legal action against his former employer following news of his sacking on June 21. Ovadia was initially stood down after it was revealed he was part of an investigation by the ABC’s Four Corners program into the alleged culture at the Seven Network.
Seven’s Lawyer Vanja Bulut told the Federal Court on Thursday, the Network terminated Ovadia’s employment because of a “number of images sent to a former colleague”, a graduate news producer. Ms Bulut said the termination, which was effective immediately, was also due to the “sending (an image) of a man’s genital to a colleague”. The Network is defending is decision to “summarily terminate” Mr Ovadia without notice, with Ms Bulut noting further allegations had arisen supporting that decision.
“Subsequent to (Mr Ovadia’s) dismissal, 13 more females have come forward with complaints in regard to his conduct and they are subject to that investigation,” Ms Bulut told the court. “He has been written to setting out the additional allegations that have come out subsequent to the dismissal, and to the extent that those allegations are reported in documents.“Even if they (Seven) didn’t have a basis to primarily terminate the applicant’s employment at that time, the conduct that ha.