A practitioner taking part in the high-profile media spat was a close contact of a coronavirus case. And while they tested negative to the virus,protocols inside the NSW Supreme Court mean the day’s proceedings had to be shelved while the entire courtroom – including anyone who attended the case last week – went to get tested.
Fingers crossed the proceedings will continue on Tuesday.
Readers will recall Morrow’s case against Murray and Cordell Jigsaw relates to the partnership they had producing ABC’s consumer affairs showThe Checkout, which ran for six seasons before going into hiatus in 2018. Morrow and Cordell wrapped up the joint production company in May 2019,but Murray hit the roof in June that year when he found out Morrow was in talks with the ABC about a revival of the show – without Cordell’s involvement. Morrow is now alleging there has been a contract dispute and that Murray and Cordell Jigsaw defamed him to ABC executives and used legal threats to torpedo any chance of aCheckout revival.
Messy stuff – and no surprises that Morrow tapped more than 20 ABC colleagues and other friends to provide reputational references,including Labor SenatorKristina Keneally.
KK herself had been scheduled to front court on Monday,but that appearance was called off last week after Morrow’s legal team filed a submission arguing that a sitting Senator couldn’t be grilled in court on information submitted to Senate Estimates. As it turned out,JusticeJames Stevensonagreed.
SHOW MUST GO ON
While the outcome of the case is unknown,the future of Morrow and the ABC is more certain. ABC is not a party to the case,but it has certainly been difficult for the national broadcaster at times,given how Morrow’s legal team highlighted how the threat of legal action from Cordell Jigsaw and Murray had prompted the ABC to discontinue any discussions of revivingThe Checkout.
Then there was the incident in April when Morrow took contempt of court action against the ABC arguing the broadcaster failed to comply with two subpoenas because it was “redacting documents in an impermissible manner”. In a judgment JusticeJames Stevenson criticised the ABC over its handling of documents.
During these months of legal fights Morrow has kept his ABC gig as presenter of Radio National weekend breakfast show Sunday Extra. Radio National is yet to release its 2022 lineup,but CBD is assured that Morrow will still be there.
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
North Bondi residents are still reeling after awhich kicked off whenCharlie Aitkenstopped by his estranged wifeEllie Aitken’s home to collect some business shirts. While it was all quiet on the beachfront on Monday morning,those connected to the pair say the more important phase of the breakup is just starting:lawyering up.
Readers will recall the high profile pair who co-founded boutique fund manager Aitken Investment Management turned heads last month with news that Aitken had entered into a relationship withHollie Nasser,who is the wife of AIM directorChris Nasserand Ellie’s lookalike former bestie. Since then,Chris has andfrom AIM’s signature fund. But the financial fall out of the bust-up is likely to grow as the race begins to secure the city’s best divorce lawyers. In Sydney,it’s a small pool. High net worths tend to choose betweenPaul Doolan’sBarkus Doolan,Jamie Burreket’sBroun Abrahams Burreket andSheridan Emerson’sPearson Emerson. Odds are that Doolan – who is chair of the family law section of the Law Council of Australia and is known to fight like a dog with a bone – is involved. The question is whose side is he on?
AUSTRALIA’S MOST INTIMIDATING BOOK CLUB?
Ever wondered what feted Australian writer and acerbic witHelen Garnerdoes to relax? Now we know:participating in what is Australia’s most terrifying book club.
The Melbourne-based salon includesThe First Stone author,together with formerAgeeditorMichael Gawenda,ex-Dean of Arts at Melbourne UniversityBelinda Probert,Stella Prize-winning novelist and poetEmily Bitto,authorThornton McCamish,triple Walkley award-winning journalistJames Button,The Conversation editorMisha Ketchell,AgecolumnistJulie Szego,andJane-Frances Kellyof the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
For about six years now,the group has met each month at each others’ houses. But this is no ordinary book group,where members gather to discuss the texts over a bottle or three of wine.
“The big thing about this group is that we read the texts together and we discuss as we go,” Gawenda told CBD. “You read far fewer books – but in a way that I feel is unique.”
The group has tackled Milton’sParadise Lost. Dante’sInferno,Gilgameshand Shakespeare’sMerchant of Venice,for which Garner is said to have assigned the parts.
When the group choseThe Odyssey andThe Iliad,they drafted in Emeritus Professor of Classics at La Trobe UniversityChristopher Mackie,who ended up joining permanently.
During COVID-19 lockdowns the group met via Zoom. The most recent novel discussed was William Faulkner’sAs I Lay Dying. “Some go off and read literary criticism but I refuse,” Gawenda said.
The group has even tackled The Old Testament. “We were going to get onto the gospels as well but we haven’t quite got there,” Gawenda said.
The big project for 2022 is the first part ofMarcel Proust’s mammoth seven volume novel now known asIn Search Of Lost Time,which in its entirety clocks in at 4215 pages. Clearly,they are thinking big.
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