The Seven Network has confirmed its former reporter Robert Ovadia has dropped an unfair dismissal case, only days after it claimed in court that more than 13 women had come forward with complaints about his conduct.
Ovadia had dismissed the claims, saying Seven’s “propaganda unit” was seeking to destroy his reputation, but walked away from the case on Friday afternoon without receiving any payment from the network, it said.
“The Seven Network confirms that Robert Ovadia has withdrawn and discontinued the proceedings he commenced against Seven in the federal court,” a Seven spokesperson said.
“This was a unilateral decision by Robert Ovadia and has involved no payment, settlement or concession by Seven to Mr Ovadia.”
Ovadia’s lawyer, John Laxon, has been contacted for comment.
He said in a statement provided to the Daily Mail and Nine Newspapers that Ovadia had walked away for personal reasons.
“While he strongly rejects allegations of serious misconduct made against him, the emotional and financial toll of proceeding with legal action is something his family can no longer bear and I entirely understand his position,” Laxon said.
Ovadia, 51, was sacked in June.
The veteran Sydney reporter had been stood down earlier that month while Seven conducted an internal investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”. He described the allegations at the time of his sacking as “malicious”.
The allegations were later outlined in documents filed in the federal court by Ovadia’s lawyers.
He was accused of creating edited photos and a caricature of “Person A” and sending them to that person, an act which did not constitute sexual harassment, the documents claimed.
He also allegedly sent a photo copied from the internet of a flaccid penis to “Person B” which was not of a sexual nature and did not amount to sexual harassment, the documents further claimed.
In documents filed in the federal court in late August, Ovadia’s lawyers denied that their client’s conduct amounted to sexual harassment or serious misconduct and alleged he was unlawfully sacked.
Seven alleged in court documents that 13 more women came forward with complaints about the conduct of Ovadia after he had been sacked.
The case last appeared in court on 29 August. After that hearing, Ovadia told Guardian Australia: “The claims are baseless and Seven has never provided evidence despite repeated requests. Even today, no evidence to support any of this – just a dirty tactic and headline to bully me away from defending myself.”
