Regional Labor Court Judge Hanna Trechtingut approved the compensation arrangement between the former CEO of the Yated Ne'eman newspaper, Yaakov Labin, and the company that publishes the Lithuanian daily Yated Ne'eman.
The settlement was made in a claim for damages and emotional distress that Leben filed with the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court against the newspaper, after two years ago, at the end of May 2012, there was a change in control of the newspaper - which ultimately left Leben outside the newspaper.
As you may recall, the Yeddot 5786 association dramatically appointed US businessman Governor Shimon Glick, a close associate of the Grand Rabbi of Israel, Steinman, as chairman of the association. At the same time, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Nati Grossman, was fired, and the newspaper's CEO, Yaakov Labin, also found himself fired, after a scuffle at the newspaper's offices, with each side deploying a security company.
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But while Grossman was paid the compensation without objection, Labin - who was fired about two weeks later - was refused. His dismissal letter stated that he was not entitled to compensation for several reasons.
In July 2012, Labin, together with Grossman, founded the newspaper 'Hapeles'.
During the two years that have passed since the upheaval, Elbim has waged a legal battle, demanding compensation from the newspaper's management for 20 years of work. At the same time, the Yated Ne'eman association has filed lawsuits against him for damages they say he has caused the newspaper over the years.
This week, the parties reached a compromise, according to which Lavin will receive in five installments a total of 2,060,000 for severance pay and for the mental anguish caused to him. In addition, the parties agreed that Velvet Media and Strategy Ltd. will be owned by Lavin with all its assets and liabilities. On the other hand, the owner of Velvet (Lavin - S.H.) waives any claim regarding the use of the name Velvet by the defendant (Yated Ne'eman - S.H.). This severes the connection between Velvet and Velvet magazine - Yated Ne'eman's women's magazine, which will remain under his name.
Judge Hanna Trechtingut writes in the decision: "We have reached an agreement whereby, for the final and complete liquidation of all mutual claims between the plaintiff and the defendant, of any kind or type, the defendant (Yated Ne'eman S. H.) will pay the plaintiff (Yaakov and S. H.) for severance pay and for emotional distress in 5 installments starting next month, a total of
"2,060,000".
