EXCLUSIVE
Emails reveal Lisa Wilkinson was “almost hysterical” when she told Channel Ten’s chief executive she would have to sell her multi-million pound home if the network did not cover her legal fees.
The emails were released by the Federal Court this week amid Wilkinson’s civil case against Network Ten over a $700,000 bill he racked up after hiring his own defense lawyer for the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case.
Wilkinson argued that she had to hire lead defamation counsel, Sue Chrysanthou SC, rather than using the network’s lawyer, Matthew Collins KC, because Ten did not have her best interests in mind and would not defend her properly.
The network claimed that Wilkinson’s defense was a duplication of its defense and therefore the fees associated with hiring Ms. Chrysanthou were unnecessary and unreasonable.
Wilkinson argued that the network initially promised to pay its bills, which was evident in an email Bev McGarvey, chief executive of Ten’s parent company Paramount, sent to lawyer Tasha Smithies, along with public relations staff and a executive.
The emails also revealed that Wilkinson had an annual wardrobe allowance of $100,000, which was later reduced to $40,000 after November 18, 2022, when she left her position as a regular host of The Project.
Wilkinson argued that the network initially promised to pay its bills, which was evident in an email Bev McGarvey (above), chief executive of Ten’s parent company Paramount, sent to lawyer Tasha Smithies.
The emails also revealed that Wilkinson had an annual wardrobe allowance of $100,000, which was later reduced to $40,000 after November 18, 2022, when she left her position as a regular host of The Project.
On June 7 last year, McGarvey said he called Wilkinson to ask for a welfare check, noting the TV presenter was “very upset” and describing the conversation as “challenging”.
The call took place three days after Wilkinson appeared in an unfavorable light in a 7News Spotlight special that featured an interview with Lehrmann.
Mrs McGarvey wrote: ‘I called Lisa and asked her how she had been coping that it had been a difficult week. He was really worried about her because he had heard that she was not in a good place.
‘Almost immediately he became upset and started talking about his legal fees and how he would have to sell his house.
“I would say his tone was almost hysterical.”
According to the email, Wilkinson’s legal bills totaled $20,000 at the time.
Ms McGarvey noted that Wilkinson “is still paid his full salary and lives in a luxurious multimillion-dollar home with a swimming pool, tennis court and harbor views.”
Lisa Wilkinson argued that she had to hire lead defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC (pictured together outside court this week) rather than using the broadcaster’s lawyer Matthew Collins KC because Ten did not have her best interests in mind. mind and would not defend it adequately.
The CEO said Wilkinson continually mentioned her fees, to which she said the network would do what it was obligated to do.
“She said that if I really cared about her, I would make sure to pay her legal fees,” McGarvey wrote in the email.
Wilkinson made “irrational” claims about the network’s choice of lawyers because they worked for News Corp.
“He seemed to imply, although it was confusing, that he thought that meant our lawyers were supplying stories to News Corp,” Ms McGarvey said.
Network Ten hired corporate law firm Thomson Geer to defend it in the defamation case against Lehrmann, who also works for News Corp.
However, Ms McGarvey also pointed out that the lawyers Wilkinson hired to represent her had also worked for Lachlan Murdoch and News Corp.
She accused the network of “hating her,” according to the email, and was so angry and upset at several points that she couldn’t speak.
‘I told him that was not the case; “I told her I was worried about her,” the email said.
“She was very upset and raised her voice several times saying that we hadn’t stopped all the bad press about her and that it had destroyed her reputation.”
“She believes the Logies were the moment everything became unsustainable for her and she blames us for that.”
McGarvey said he tried to stay calm, but became agitated and had to take deep breaths to calm down.
“She in no way feels she did anything wrong,” the email said.
At the end of the 30-minute conversation, Ms. McGarvey discovered that Wilkinson was worried about two things: her reputation and her legal fees.