Olympic swimmer Michael Klim has launched legal action against Milk Skincare for ‘loss and damages’ of around $152,000 after being fired from them in 2021. Klim, 45, filed documents in the Federal Circuit Court last week alleging the dismissal caused him ‘distress and humiliation’, reports the Herald Sun.
Klim’s lawyer, John Gdanski, of SLF lawyers, said they were fighting to get Michael what he was rightfully owed. ‘We want what is fair and reasonable and are his entitlements. We were left with no other alternative but to issue proceedings,’ he said.
He founded the company in 2006 as his namesake, Klim, and sold it in 2017 under the agreement he remained Managing Director for a $200,000 a year salary. However, the company later parted ways with Klim and rebranded the business as Milk, which is his surname spelled backwards.
They have filed a breach of contract claim alleging Milk and Co owe Michael $152,050.76, comprising of unpaid earnings, three months’ pay-in-lieu of notice and more. The company is yet to respond to the claim.
However, despite the debilitating disease, he has a dogged determination and recently started training in the gym and doing what he loves best- swimming. Now, he’s encouraging Aussies to hop in their local sea or pool and take on a challenge with him for a good cause. Back in 2021, the Olympic swimmer was given the devastating news he had chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) – a rare auto-immune disorder in the arms and legs.
Michael has teamed up with Brainwave Australia and is calling on the country to swim every day for the entire month of March in order to raise funds for children with brain injuries and illnesses. ‘This March, it is time to harness swimming to raise awareness of the neurological conditions that affect thousands of Australians, and which also affect me.’
The Brainwave Klim Swim Challenge is hoping that all involved will swim a collective 34,000km and raise over $300,000 for children with brain disorders. Speaking about the challenge, Michael said: ‘Swimming has given me my purpose, motivation, challenges and rewards in life.’
