Credit: Colin Davis via Unsplash
A case in the Federal Court alleging sexual assault, drug taking and bullying at an advertising agency has been “vacated”.
The long running civil action centres around allegations made by Ella Campbell against advertising executives Chris Laws and Chris Harris.
The action, under the Fairwork Act, relates to Campbell's time at now defunct agency Born & Raised in Sydney’s Crows Nest where Laws was managing director and Harris group CEO of a number of agencies.
Justice Thawley has ordered that the case, which started in September 2022, alleging discrimination under Fair Work provisions, be vacated.
However, Campbell can provide an “expert report” to the judge addressing her “mental and physical health and her capacity to participate in the proceedings, including preparing evidence, giving oral testimony and being cross-examined”.
Harmers Workplace Lawyers, acting for Campbell, said the matter had not concluded. "It has been placed on hold for reasons related to our client’s health," the lawyers told AdNews.
Campbell joined the agency as group business director in January 2018, from DT Digital, part of then STW Communications, when she was aged 27.
In documents tendered to the court, she alleges that the harassment started when she was given a lift home after which Laws, then in his mid 40s, texted: “I think I love you.”
Campbell alleged the two men were grooming her, taking advantage of her vulnerability as a young woman and her keenness to do well and impress her managers.
She said the agency employed mostly attractive women aged no more than 35.
Campbell said the men vacillated between treating her as a favourite and punishing her if she didn’t submit to sexual advances or didn’t attend long lunches or accept cocaine and alcohol.
Campbell said Harris’ behaviour became erratic "apparently as his addiction to cocaine became more severe”.
In February 2018, Campbell said she and the rest of the staff were taken on a team building boat trip where Laws and Harris supplied cocaine and alcohol.
The boat trip ended at 7pm with employees adjourning to the office where more cocaine and alcohol was supplied.
Campbell said Laws put his hand on her breasts and pushed her head to his lap. Later he is alleged to have put his hand up her dress.
She told colleagues, who allegedly replied: “I wish he didn't do that.”
Laws, she said, started making critical comments about her after that incident.
After a client lunch at a restaurant at the finer wharf in Woolloomooloo, she and staff moved to the Molo Bar at the Ovolo Hotel.
Campbell alleged the client CEO followed her to the toilets and gave her cocaine, after which he sexually assaulted her.
The court was told Harris wrote to Campbell in October 2018, saying jobs were on the line and that the agency didn’t have the money to pay salaries.
“We are not closing deals and still burning cash every week,” Harris said, according to court documents.
She was made redundant in January 2019. Campbell said she wasn’t paid superannuation or commissions owed.
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