Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Current TV filed a countersuit Friday against its former star employee Keith Olbermann , a day after the television personality filed his suit against the company . Current TV , co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt , ousted Olbermann last week . The company 's 16-page suit , filed in California Superior Court , accuses Olbermann of breach of contract and dismisses as `` fiction '' the charges Olbermann leveled against it Thursday . `` In particular , Current seeks a determination that it is no longer obligated to pay a dime to Mr. Olbermann who , having already been paid handsomely for showing up sporadically and utterly failing to keep his end of the bargain , now seeks to be paid tens of millions more for not working at all , '' says the cross-complaint , which was signed by Laura W. Brill , a lawyer for Current TV . The cross-complaint says that Olbermann leaked the financial terms of his contract ; refused to help promote the network ; was absent 19 of 41 working days in January and February ; and refused to participate in Current 's caucus and primary election coverage specials , then changed his mind just before the Iowa Caucuses . Current said it has upheld its end of the bargain , and then some , despite criticism from Olbermann , who was its highest-paid employee . `` For example , he arrogantly and falsely calls 'cheap ' the company that has paid him the highest compensation he had ever received in his career , provided him the largest staff of any program he had ever anchored , given him the largest studio and custom-designed set on which he had ever worked , and paid over $ 50,000 in an eight-month period to eight different limousine companies because none of the previous seven were able to meet his Patrician standards for how to drive him around New York City , '' the cross-complaint says . It asks for Current TV to be relieved of any continuing obligations to Olbermann , asks for unspecified damages `` to be proved at trial '' and seeks reimbursement for legal expenses . A call to Olbermann 's manager was not immediately returned . On Thursday , Olbermann had sued Current TV in the same court , claiming breach of contract , unfair dealing and disparagement . Olbermann says he is owed $ 50 million to $ 70 million in cash and equity compensation , according to the suit , which seeks a jury trial . The lawsuit also seeks a judgment for other unspecified monetary damages , with interest . `` This action is necessary as Current has repeatedly and willfully breached its written agreement with Olbermann , '' his lawsuit said , `` often continuing to do so after receiving specific notices to cure such breaches . `` In its most recent breach , Current unilaterally , and without cause , terminated its agreement with Olbermann . Current 's sudden and public termination of Olbermann was the latest in a series of increasingly erratic and unprofessional actions undertaken by Current 's senior management , '' the lawsuit said . Olbermann 's suit called Gore , Hyatt and Current management `` no more than dilettantes portraying entertainment industry executives . '' In a statement Thursday , Current said it fired Olbermann for `` serial , material breaches of his contract , including the failure to show up at work , sabotaging the network and attacking Current and its executives . '' It continued , `` It is well established that over his professional career Mr. Olbermann has specialized in pounding the table . `` However , Mr. Olbermann , by filing his false and malicious lawsuit , has now put this matter into a legal process where there will be an objective review of the facts . `` We hope Mr. Olbermann understands that when it comes to the legal process , he is actually required to show up . '' Gore and Hyatt courted Olbermann to leave his previous employer , MSNBC , with promises of `` an unprecedented level of control and resources to build a new progressive network , '' Olbermann 's lawsuit said . Olbermann was given `` full editorial control over 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann ' `` and the title of chief news officer , the suit said . But the relationship soured shortly after Olbermann joined the network , according to the suit . `` Admitting that he and Gore 'had expertise lacking in order to strategically execute the vision ( they had ) committed to ' Hyatt created an environment in which major business errors and technical failures became commonplace and acceptable , '' the lawsuit alleges . `` Hyatt also attempted to isolate Olbermann from his professional representatives in an awkward attempt to form a close personal friendship with his new star , '' the suit says . When Olbermann did n't reciprocate , Hyatt withheld production resources and disparaged Olbermann in the press , the lawsuit says . CNN 's Michael Martinez contributed to this report .
Current TV accuses Olbermann of breach of contract . Company co - founders Al Gore and Joel Hyatt are ` ` dilettantes , '' Gore 's lawyer says . Olbermann says he 's owed $ 50 million to $ 70 million in cash and other compensation . Current TV terminated him last week .