AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2001
Qld:Channel 7 fails in bid to stop newsreader working for Nine
Channel Seven has failed in its bid to stop Queensland news host and reporter MELISSA
DOWNES from reading news on the Nine Network tonight.
The Brisbane Supreme Court also heard that preventing her from working for a rival
network was almost like slavery and could seriously damage her career.
Ms DOWNES left Seven to join the top-rating Extra program in 2002 and the Saturday
edition, which screens at 5.30pm today, and to read the 6pm news.
Counsel for Seven, TONY MORRIS, QC, today argued that Ms DOWNES is breaching her two-year
contract but the court heard that she never signed the document.
The court also heard that there were up to four other newsreaders who were able to
take her place as newsreaders on Seven.
Supreme Court Justice ROS ATKINSON said Ms DOWNES was no doubt a valuable employee
but not a star.
She said it was also dangerously close to the doctrine of slavery to impose such restraints
on personal service and Channel Seven had no signed contract on which it could base its
case.
AAP RTV rad/jh
KEYWORD: DOWNES (BRISBANE)
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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