The ongoing defamation battle between Senator Linda Reynolds and her former employee Brittany Higgins, as well as her partner David Sharaz, will return to court for a surprise hearing this week.
Senator Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz for defamation over several social media posts they published in 2022 and 2023, following claims by Ms Higgins that she was raped in Parliament by her then colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
Federal Court Judge Michael Lee recently ruled that he was satisfied by a civil standard (which is different from the criminal standard) that, considering all probabilities, Ms. Higgins was raped.
That finding came after legal action Lehrmann brought against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a report on the show The Project in 2021.
Judge Lee also found that a political cover-up involving Senator Reynolds and others was not true, which Senator Reynolds said was a vindication of her.
His damages claim against Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz will return to the WA Supreme Court on Tuesday, sooner than expected.
Senator Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins (pictured) and Mr Sharaz (pictured behind Ms Higgins) for defamation over a series of social media posts they published in 2022 and 2023.
Brittany Higgins and her fiancé are understood to ask Western Australia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday to overturn the July 24 trial date set for their defamation battle with Senator Reynolds.
The move to delay the six-week trial will be strongly opposed by Senator Reynolds, who is concerned that any delay could push the defamation case into 2025. The Australian reported.
Lawyers for both sides are due to appear before Judge Tottle on Tuesday.
“For three years I have endured intense public scrutiny, defamation, vile trolling, and been demonized as the villain in a political cover-up story that I always knew was false,” Senator Reynolds said after Judge Lee handed down his sentence. .
“Fiona Brown and I have lost our careers, our reputations have been destroyed and our health is seriously and irreparably compromised.”
In his own statement, Higgins said he was sorry for the harm suffered by his former boss and Ms Brown.
“While I do not agree with all of Judge Lee’s conclusions, I respect his observations about the many people scarred and harmed following my rape,” Ms Higgins said.
‘All the various people who have unknowingly been caught up in years of media discourse and legal battles in relation to my rape.
Linda Reynolds (pictured) has indicated that her defamation action will continue
‘I especially want to highlight my family, who have been incredibly supportive.
“They have been very strong, they have stood up to a seemingly relentless barrage of hate and they have constantly kept me together in times when I thought I would fall apart.
‘Senator Reynolds and Fiona Brown were also injured and for that I am sorry too. My perceptions and feelings about what happened in the days and weeks after my rape are different than theirs.
‘I deeply regret that we have not yet found common ground. “I hope we can resolve our differences with a better understanding of each other’s experience.”
Senator Reynolds indicated her defamation action would continue.
“I welcome Ms. Higgins’ olive branch and her commitment to working with me to reach a resolution,” he said.
‘What still exists between us are not different perceptions. It is a fact that Mrs Higgins received our support and that there was no cover-up.
“If Ms Higgins does not accept Judge Lee’s conclusions on the allegations of cover-up and ill-treatment, then unfortunately it will have to be proven again at our trial scheduled for July this year.”
In addition to Tuesday’s hearing, a strategy conference is scheduled for May 24.
The social media posts were made after Higgins claimed Bruce Lehrmann had raped her in parliament (pictured).