From BZ/dpa
The Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), which has plunged into the broadcasting crisis, is increasing its claim in court against the dismissed director Patricia Schlesinger.
In response to a request from the German Press Agency, a spokeswoman for the Berlin Regional Court said that the public broadcaster was now claiming almost 270,000 euros. Originally it was just under 30,000 euros. A trial date has not yet been set.
According to the court, it is essentially about the repayment of variable remuneration. The previous claim was based on a payment in 2019. Remuneration over several years is now required. When asked by the dpa, the RBB stated several times that it does not comment on ongoing proceedings.
The Schlesinger case
In the summer of 2022, the ARD broadcaster plunged into a deep crisis over allegations of nepotism and waste against the then director Schlesinger and the resigned station controller Wolf-Dieter Wolf. Both denied the allegations. The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating. The presumption of innocence applies until the proceedings are legally concluded.
Regardless of these investigations, there are proceedings at the regional court for which no date has yet been set. In the process, both parties raise claims. Schlesinger was the first to sue the RBB. According to previous regional court information, the 62-year-old is demanding a pension based on the ended employment relationship. Her media lawyer spoke of a company pension in February. Retirement benefits mean that, under certain conditions, you receive money from your previous employer even after an employment relationship has ended.
The RBB then reacted with a so-called counterclaim in which, according to the court, it is now demanding the almost 270,000 euros described.
The former station controller Wolf is also part of this entire legal dispute. According to court information from July, he joined in as a so-called secondary intervener on Schlesinger’s side. Wolf did not comment on this when asked by the dpa at the time.
The legal term “co-intervenor” means someone who can act as support for one of the parties to the dispute and join them. However, he cannot fundamentally change the procedure or become a party to the dispute himself. It’s basically a position in the back row that can take part.