Taylor Auerbach is suing his former employer Seven over comments the network allegedly made about him last year amid a defamation claim in which the former producer gave explosive evidence about how Spotlight secured an interview with Bruce Lehrmann.
The federal court has not yet released documents in the case, but sources have told Guardian Australia the fresh legal action, filed on Friday, emanates from Seven’s public statements about its former employee in response to claims in his evidence in the Lehrmann case.
The former Spotlight producer was one of several staff who convinced Lehrmann to do an exclusive interview after the criminal case for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in the ACT was dropped our of fear for her health.
Auerbach became a late star witness when Ten re-opened its defence of the defamation action in April 2024, just days before Justice Michael Lee was to deliver his verdict.
Auerbach swore an affidavit saying text messages and receipts in his possession showed tens of thousands of dollars were billed to Seven while the Spotlight program was courting Lehrmann for an exclusive interview.
In a statement issued after Auerbach’s evidence, a spokesperson for the Seven Network said it was “appalled” by the allegations.
“Seven did not reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and has never done so,” the spokesperson said.
In the paid interview, which aired in June 2023, Lehrmann said the alleged assault in Parliament House “simply didn’t happen”.
November 2023 marked the beginning of the defamation trial Lehrmann brought against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson for broadcasting the allegation on The Project.
In his affidavit Auerbach alleged his former employer falsely made public statements that he was disciplined as a result of misuse of the company card.
He told the court he had previously settled a psychological injury claim against Seven on confidential terms.
After leaving Spotlight in 2023 and signing a non-disclosure agreement, Auerbach was employed by Sky News Australia as an investigations producer but he lost his job at Sky when News Corp published text messages between a Seven employee and a Thai massage parlour and use of a Seven credit card.
In Auerbach’s affidavit he said his employment as an investigations producer at Sky News Australia was terminated in March last year “as a result of … media reports”.
He also provided receipts showing eight separate charges for Sensai Thai Massage on 26 November 2022, totalling $10,315.
Auerbach has always rejected the suggestion he was counselled and sacked by Seven for his role in the Lehrmann matter and gave a press conference in an eastern suburbs park at the time.
“It was reported that I was counselled and given a written warning by Channel Seven over my conduct relating to a night involving Bruce Lehrmann – that reporting is inaccurate. As are reports that I lost my job [at Seven] over the incident,” Auerbach said.
Seven is yet to file a defence and has declined to comment.
