Julian Reichelt: Springer and ex-“Bild” boss agree out of court

2023-08-22 15:19:21

Media Labor Law

Ex-“Bild” boss Reichelt and Axel Springer reach an out-of-court agreement

Status: 3:19 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes

Julian Reichelt had to leave “Bild” as editor-in-chief in autumn 2021

Source: picture alliance/dpa/APA/Tobias Steinmaurer

You can listen to our WELT podcasts here

In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is required, since the providers of the embedded content as third-party providers require this consent [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the switch and via privacy at the bottom of the page.

Axel Springer had sued the former “Bild” editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt before the Berlin Labor Court for the repayment of his severance pay of two million euros because of breaches of contract. Both parties have now reached an out-of-court settlement.

The media group Axel Springer (WELT, “Bild”, “Politico”, “Business Insider”) and the former “Bild” boss Julian Reichelt have settled their labor law dispute. It was agreed out of court announced the media house in Berlin on Tuesday. Journalist Reichelt confirmed this at the request of the German Press Agency.

What exactly the parties agreed on remained unclear. Springer had filed a lawsuit with the labor court in Berlin, demanding repayment of a severance payment.

Irrespective of the labor dispute, the Berlin public prosecutor’s office is still investigating based on Springer’s criminal complaint against Reichelt on suspicion of fraud. The presumption of innocence applies until the investigation is completed. The investigations are ongoing, as a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office said when asked by the dpa.

Reichelt had to leave in autumn 2021 as editor-in-chief of Germany’s largest tabloid “Bild”. The background was allegations of abuse of power in connection with consensual relationships with employees. There had also been internal investigations at Springer. The journalist himself had spoken of a “smear campaign” against him and repeatedly rejected allegations.

also read

In the labor law proceedings, there was a first hearing at the labor court in June to explore a possible agreement. At that time, however, the parties had taken opposing positions.

No statement from Reichelt on the agreement

Springer accused Reichelt of breaching the contract in connection with his end at the media company. The journalist is said to have given out information about the group, although it had been agreed that he would delete it when he left. On the basis of this agreement, the severance payment – ​​according to earlier court information, two million euros – was paid to him.

The publisher of the “Berliner Zeitung” and thus of a competing media company, Holger Friedrich, had made it publicly known in an interview that he had been contacted by Reichelt. He then turned to Springer.

also read

Armageddon Championship Series

Reichelt had reacted to Springer’s lawsuit with a so-called counterclaim and made claims on his part. It was about access to documents relating to the internal proceedings regarding the allegations against Reichelt. He also wanted damages of at least 1000 euros in this context.

While Reichelt did not make a statement on the agreement that has now been reached, Springer said, among other things, that the out-of-court agreement is welcomed because it meets the core concerns of the lawsuit and possibly saves a long-term legal dispute. The statement also says: “Julian Reichelt regrets having sent information to the Berliner Verlag.”

Confidentiality was agreed with regard to the content of the agreement. In addition, it said: “In the event of future violations of the settlement agreement, which was concluded in the course of the termination of Julian Reichelt’s employment, or of the agreement that has now been reached, Axel Springer reserves the right to take legal action again and to assert claims by the company. “

also read