A frustrated judge has told the Federal Court he does not want the cost battle between journalist Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten to “go any further”.
Judge Michael Lee earlier this year dismissed Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation suit against the television network and Ms. Wilkinson.
Ms Wilkinson retained independent legal counsel from Network Ten during the case and is now seeking costs of around $1.8 million from the network.
On Monday, lawyers for both sides clashed over the final figure that should be paid to Ms Wilkinson.
A court-appointed arbitrator had prepared a report on Ms Wilkinson’s legal costs, but they disagreed on a number of elements of the report.
When Ms Wilkinson’s lawyer, Michael Elliott SC, asked for the matter to be adjourned, Judge Lee gave a fiery response, saying he wanted the matter to be over before Christmas.
“I wanted to take care of this today,” the judge reportedly said.
“I want to make sure I conclude my involvement in this matter if possible.”
Ms Wilkinson sought separate legal advice from Network Ten during the case and is now seeking costs from the network of approximately $1.8 million.
Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson was dismissed earlier this year, a decision he appealed
The judge was due to take leave over Christmas and start a major case involving Star Casino in 2025.
“I really want this advent to come to an end, I don’t want 2025 to see my participation in it unless it is necessary for me to participate,” Judge Lee later said.
“I’m not going to drag this out any longer.”
Finally, the judge agreed to adjourn the matter until February 2025.
Lehrmann faced a trial in the ACT Supreme Court in 2022 after pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
The trial was abandoned due to jury misconduct and the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges and plans for a retrial due to concerns for the welfare of the complainant, Brittany Higgins.
Lehrmann then sued Wilkinson and Network Ten for defamation, over an interview with Higgins on The Project in which she said she was raped by a colleague.
In his ruling in April, Mr Justice Lee found, considering the probabilities, that Mr Lehrmann raped his Liberal colleague Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in March 2019.
On Monday, lawyers for both sides clashed over the final amount that should be paid to Ms Wilkinson.
After the loss, Lehrmann was ordered to pay $2 million in costs, although Judge Lee said there was “no real chance” he would be able to pay them.
Judge Lee became a minor celebrity after presiding over the high-profile trial, which was broadcast live on YouTube.
Relations between Ms Wilkinson and the network deteriorated after she hired her own lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou SC, to represent her in the case instead of using Network Ten’s lawyers.
Lehrmann is scheduled to return to court in August 2025 for his appeal against Judge Lee’s ruling.
The costs order against him has been delayed until the appeal is concluded.