A day after boss Sally Neighbour announced her departure, former Fair Work Commission vice-president Michael Lawler is suing the ABC for more than $1 million on the grounds that it deceived him into appearing on a Four Corners program about him and his then-partner, unionist Kathy Jackson. It was epic… And Lawler says journo Caro Meldrum-Hanna tricked him into participating because she said his allegations about “systemic corruption” in his organisation and the courts more broadly would be the focus. What went to air was an awkward peek at his relationship with his controversial and high profile partner, who was accused (and later convicted) of defrauding the Health Services Union. Lawler says the 2015 program caused a “serious decline” in his mental health, leaving him permanently unable to work, so he’s got his hand up for enough dosh to plug the gap between his judges’ pension (estimated at $250,000 a year) and his old $435,000 salary. That will be in court today.