Breaking news: Seven to sue network rivals Ten over their poaching of sales boss James Warburton.

David Leckie’s channel is ”contending the existence of employment and post-employment restraints” on their sales ace Warburton and pursuing legal action over his shock departure, which rival, Lachlan Murdoch, a Ten shareholder, was said to have secretly organised.  

James Packer, Ten’s other major shareholder, resigned from the board as a result of the move, which was said to have put him at odds with another important business associate and Seven’s owner, Kerry Stokes.  

Warburton will begin his new role as head of Ten “as previously announced, on 14 July 2011,” Ten said today, and are refuting Seven’s claims it acted improperly. 

”Ten considers that it has acted properly and in a way that is consistent with Mr Warburton’s employment obligations and will be defending any proceedings accordingly.”

Read Ten Swipes Channel 7 Digital Boss

Warburton, as the network’s new CEO, will be taking over Grant Blackley’s spot, who got the sack just weeks earlier following a disappoining earnings slump at the channel. Lachlan Murdoch was acting as stand-in Chief while the network found a replacement.