Jackie O’s $80m legal fight with ex-boss delayed
Tom Wark |
Radio star Jackie “O” Henderson’s quest to recoup the bulk of her nine-figure contract has been pushed back more than six months.
A civil trial between the owner of KIIS FM and its former breakfast star was set to begin on October 12, but a delay in pre-trial proceedings and the filing of documents have caused a mammoth delay.
Federal Court Justice Wendy Abraham on Friday postponed the two-week trial until late April after a crucial pre-trial hearing was aborted on Thursday.
“There is no option but to adjourn the trial,” she said.
Dozens of documents in the 3900-page court book have been caught up in battles between the two sides over legal privilege.
Hearing arguments and then adjudicating on those before October 12 proved too big a mountain to climb.
“Documents did have to be provided in a far tighter timeframe than they were,” Justice Abraham said.
The court case relates to ARN – which operates the KIIS and GOLD brands – severing its contract with Henderson after her co-host Kyle Sandilands made offensive comments about her on-air in February.
Henderson is suing the radio giant for unlawful termination of her $100 million contract after refusing to work with her volatile co-host.
The Adelaide-born shock jock is expected to give evidence at trial about alleged damage she suffered to her mental health and wellbeing after a series of attacks from Sandilands.
Henderson, 51, says she made a bullying complaint about Sandilands in 2025.
But ARN claims the proceedings were dropped after the former Triple M and 2dayFM host sought spiritual assistance.
“She believed the issue had been resolved through her arranging for exorcists to clear Mr Sandilands’ demons,” the amended cross-claim filed by ARN states.
“Her basis for telling ARN no further action was required was not a rational one.”
In a defence made public by the court, the company claimed Henderson’s threats to initiate a workplace bullying claim with SafeWork NSW were not made in line with workplace law.
“That Ms Henderson and Henderson Media reserved their right to make a report to SafeWork NSW was not done in good faith and for a proper purpose,” the radio giant claims.
ARN also argues it was not the true employer of Henderson.
Rather, it contends that was Henderson Media, the 51-year-old’s company, for which she is the sole director and shareholder.
“Henderson Media had all of the statutory duties in respect of workplace health and safety,” the amended cross-claim states.
Sandilands settled his case with ARN in June, receiving a $12 million payout.
The pair were in just the second year of a mammoth 10-year, $200 million contract.
But Henderson’s deal was scrapped when she told KIIS FM’s parent company ARN she could not continue to work with Sandilands in February.
Sandilands, who has been embroiled in a series of scandals throughout his contentious career, was hit with a breach notice for “serious misconduct” and was taken off air for two weeks.
Henderson is still seeking the full payout of the remaining balance of her contract, estimated to be about $85 million.
The case will return to court on October 19 for the argument over legal privilege.
AAP