Terri Irwin is being sued for breach of contract after she allegedly backed out of an agreement with the company that manages the Crocodile Hunter and Irwin family brands.
The widow of Steve Irwin allegedly told Zoo Sky Media Pty Ltd she and her children Bindi and Bob had been reassessing their lives and wanted to take a step back from the activity associated with filming, according to a writ.
Mrs Irwin said she and her family were at a crossroads and wanted to make a change, the writ filed in the Victorian Supreme Court alleges.
The company also claims the Irwin family bypassed them to appear on reality TV show I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!, and provided the show with clips, denying Zoo revenue it was entitled to.
Mrs Irwin and Zoo directors Adam Schoff and Michael John Whitfort had entered into an agreement in 2010 whereby Zoo would develop, market and manage the Irwin Family Brand Assets, the writ says.
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"Terri Irwin said to Schoff that she and her children had been reassessing their lives and wanted to take a step back from all the activity associated with filming, they needed to take a break, and they needed to step out of the agreement," the writ says.
The company is seeking damages, costs and interest, claiming a list of breaches Mrs Irwin later provided as a basis for breaking the agreement have no basis in fact or in law.
Ms Irwin has been contacted for a response.
