‘David and Goliath’ battle between Channel Seven and Spotlight journalist heats up  – as the network is accused of using ‘scare tactics’ against her

A looming legal battle between a journalist and Seven is heating up, with the network accused of using ‘scare tactics’ to try to make the former staffer drop her case. 

Amelia Saw, who worked on Seven’s Spotlight, claims she endured a ‘hostile work environment’ on the TV show in an explosive statement of claim which she filed to the Federal Court in September. 

She alleges that an international work trip that involved explicit emails, texts and witness statements is at the centre of her complaints.

And while Seven has demanded a media blackout regarding Saw’s bombshell allegations, the network has also made it clear that it won’t go down without a fight as insiders claim her case could open the floodgates for more. 

It’s understood the troubled network has sent legal letters warning Saw about taking legal action. 

‘They have made it clear that if she continues with her case they won’t be holding back and things she may want to keep private will all be made public,’  a source told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘Of course, it’s very stressful and a real David and Goliath battle for her.’ 

Undeterred by the ’empty threats’, it’s understood Saw is more determined than ever to hold Seven accountable. 

But while Seven initially claimed it wanted to head straight to court to begin the legal battle, skipping mediation entirely, it then made the surprise move of requesting a suppression in the final hour, adding to Saw’s climbing legal costs. 

‘They are being an absolute nightmare and trying every trick in the book to delay this while the costs rack up,’ the source said. 

‘She would be close to $100,000 in fees so far. That’s a huge amount of money for the average person, let alone a single mum.’

With Saw’s case closely following the ABC’s Four Corners investigation in which more than 200 people were interviewed regarding the toxic culture, bullying and sexism within the Seven Network, media insiders say she is now being used as an example.

‘If Amelia wins, this could open up the floodgates for others,’ the source said.

‘And that’s the last thing they need after all the bad publicity.’ 

Robert Ovadia believed Seven were trying to scare him off

Taylor Auerbach, who worked alongside Saw on Spotlight, received a six-figure payout from the network after claiming he was the victim of sustained bullying and anti-Semitism 

Sydney journalist Robert Ovadia abruptly dropped legal action against Seven following allegations of inappropriate conduct, just one month after he took the network to court in September.

In a post on his Instagram account, Ovadia accused ‘Seven’s Propaganda Unit’ for being ‘intent on scaring me away from court’.

Ovadia also said the ABC’s Four Corners program ‘got one thing right – the Seven Network is diabolical’.

However, former Seven employee Taylor Auerbach, who worked alongside Saw, received a six-figure payout from Seven after claiming he was the victim of sustained bullying and anti-Semitism.

The payout came after he alleged in court that he had wooed former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann with sex workers, drugs and fancy meals to get him to sign with the network.

Auerbach also received a positive reference from Seven’s director of news and public affairs Craig McPherson, which praised his ‘creative flair’ and ‘diligence’, in addition to a reported $150,000 payout.