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

A looming legal battle between a journalist and Seven is flaring up, with the network accused of using “scare tactics” to get the former staffer to 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 she filed in the Federal Court in September.

She claims an international work trip involving explicit emails, text messages and witness statements is at the heart of her complaints.

And while Seven has demanded a media blackout regarding Saw’s allegations, the network has also made it clear that this won’t happen 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 will not hold 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.’

It’s clear that Saw is undeterred by the ’empty threats’ and is more determined than ever to hold Seven accountable.

Former journalist and single mother Amelia Saw is not backing down against Seven

But while Seven initially claimed it wanted to go straight to court to start the legal battle and skip mediation altogether, it then made the surprise move in the final hour to file for suppression, further adding to Saw’s legal costs increased further.

“They are an absolute nightmare and are trying to do everything they can to delay this while the costs mount,” the source said.

“She is said to have received almost $100,000 in fees to date. That’s a huge amount of money for the average person, let alone a single mother.’

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

“If Amelia wins, it could open the floodgates for others,” the source said.

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

Robert Ovadia believed that Seven was trying to scare him off

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

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

In a post on his Instagram account, Ovadia accused ‘Seven’s Propaganda Unit’ of ‘planning to drive me away from the court’.

Ovadia also said ABC’s Four Corners program “gets one thing right: the Seven Network is diabolical.”

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

The payout came after he claimed in court that he lured former political operative 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, who praised his “creative flair” and “diligence”, in addition to a reported $150,000 payout.