The ugly spat has ended up in the County Court, with Ms Grace saying that Mr Moore deliberately set out to damage her acting school’s reputation.
The case centres on an email sent in Ms Grace’s name, claiming that a teacher at the Geelong school had abused a student.
Ms Grace claims the email was sent by Mr Moore to tarnish her acting school and discredit its senior teacher Luke Saliba.
Mr Saliba, who has also appeared on Winners and Losers, and Ms Grace’s Mooregrace Acting Studio have filed a writ in the County Court accusing Mr Moore of deliberately setting out to damage their reputations.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Moore, who until the couple’s recent split was also a director of the acting studio, allegedly accessed the school’s email account in September last year and sent out a bogus email in Ms Grace’s name.
The email was sent to everyone on the studio’s email contact list and claimed a parent with a long association with the school had accused Mr Saliba of “inappropriate behaviour” with a student.
“We are shocked and upset,” the email says.
“Although we stand behind all our teaching staff, we take these complaints very seriously. I can assure you that Luke will no longer be working at Mooregrace until we have all of the answers. It is a very sad day for Mooregrace, as Luke is loved by many of our students and staff.”
The email promises to keep the recipients updated and looks forward to “starting term 4 with positivity, love and compassion”.
Mr Moore admitted to the Herald Sun he sent the emails but claimed he was provoked and wanted to “scare” Mr Saliba into taking him seriously as his marriage and his life spiralled out of control.
Mr Moore said he was “totally ashamed” of his actions and had now resolved the matter with his ex-wife.
“I have learnt how to let go of poisonous negative thoughts and I am now trying to rebuild my life slowly,” he said.
Ms Grace said she needed to clear the studio’s name.
“Although (Paul’s) done some things that are really hurtful I want the best for him,” she said.
Mooregrace Acting Studios opened in 2006, after the then friends spent a semester in Los Angeles at an acting school, to “combine their two loves; acting and teaching”.
Mr Moore proposed to Ms Grace in 2007 on the game show Deal or No Deal where he also won $48,000 that went towards helping establish the studio.
Prior to their split Mr Moore, who plays Wes Fitzpatrick on Winners and Losers, said acting and teaching helped him deal with anxiety.
“I see a lot of myself in these kids and I don’t want them to have the inner demon that I had when I was their age,” he told the Geelong Advertiser.
“My job is to make sure that they have the best, most positive life possible.”
Ms Grace, who now runs the studio alone, plays the opinionated character Bridget Gross on Winners and Losers and has had guest roles in Blue Heelers, Neighbours and Canal Road.
The writ alleges the email purportedly written by Ms Grace was defamatory and understood to mean that Mr Saliba had engaged in misconduct of such seriousness that he had been dismissed and charged by police.
It says the email’s claims also suggest the studio failed to provide a safe learning environment and keep its students safe, and employed teachers who prey on its students.
As a result Mr Saliba and the studio claim they have been held up to public ridicule and contempt and seriously injured in their reputation.
Mr Saliba claims he has also suffered hurt and embarrassment and been seriously injured in his feelings.
They are seeking unspecified aggravated damages, claiming the email’s content has no basis in reality, was published under a “cloak of authenticity” and was calculated to damage their reputations.Read more at:white prom dresses | blue prom dresses
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