Ousted Triple M host Lawrence Mooney is reportedly seeking “no less than $1 million” in a lawsuit against his former employer.
Axed Triple M host Lawrence Mooney has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, and is reportedly seeking a payout of “no less than $1 million”.
The Australian reports Mooney’s lawyers lodged a statement of claim in the NSW Supreme Court last Monday alleging “breach of contract” by Triple M’s owner, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).
Mooney, 56, was abruptly taken off-air earlier this month with more than a year to go on his contract, and is seeking damages.
SCA announced on November 15 that Mooney, who had been mysteriously absent from his Triple M Moonman in the Morning breakfast show for more than a week, would not be returning to the program and would exit the network, effective immediately.
Hours later, a statement released by media and employment lawyer John Laxon of Laxon Lex Lawyers confirmed that Mooney had enlisted his services.
“My client has a contract which runs through to the end of next year, which SCA has brought to an end,” Mr Laxon said at the time.
“The terms of that contract were drafted by SCA and were bargained for and agreed to by my client. He will hold SCA to those terms. All my client asks is that SCA honour the contract and observe the contractual arrangements which they put in place. No further comment will be made.”
Moonman in the Morning has since been renamed Triple M Breakfast with MG (Mark Geyer), Jess & Pagey.
It was reported that Mooney had fallen out with former The Block contestant Jess Eva and several other staff members as the show suffered dwindling ratings.
In the latest radio survey, Moonman in the Morning attracted just a 4.6 per cent share in the ratings, compared with FM leader The Kyle and Jackie O Show, which collected 10.7 per cent.
According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, it was an “internal” issue that led to Mooney’s abrupt departure from the airwaves.
“My information – which is very well-placed – says to me that it was an internal, off-air workplace issue that has led to this disappearance,” he told Seven’s The Morning Show at the time.
“What will happen in terms of money will be interesting, because he has another year to run on his contract and I don’t imagine (SCA) will just pay it out as simply as that.”
The comedian was hired to host the show in January 2019 on a rumoured $750,000 salary.
According to the Daily Mail, that was increased to between $1.5 million and $2 million for 2020 and 2021.
Originally published as Lawrence Mooney seeks $1 million in Triple M lawsuit after getting sacked
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