Bruce Lehrmann caused more than $13,000 worth of damage to a multimillion-dollar property he rented as part of an exclusive deal for a television interview, a court was told.
Lady Gaenor Meakes, who owned the house on Sydney’s northern beaches, rented the property to Lehrmann and the Seven Network picked up the $100,000 bill.
He has since filed a lawsuit against Lehrmann for property damage and loss of rent.
A conciliation hearing at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday was told Lehrmann left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damages when he moved out.
Lady Meakes also claims she is owed $6,000 in lost rent because Lehrmann vacated the property three weeks earlier.
The parties were unable to reach an agreement during a brief court session, which Lehrmann did not attend.
Lady Meakes’ daughter Matilda, who appeared in court on her mother’s behalf, told reporters “it has been a journey” as she left the building.
On Wednesday, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal was told Lehrmann (pictured) left the Balgowlah property with $13,250 in damages when he moved out.
Lady Gaenor Meakes (pictured) also claims she is owed $6,000 in lost rent because Lehrmann vacated the property three weeks earlier.
The Balgowlah property (pictured) is currently on the rental market with an asking price of just under $2,000 per week.
Asked if the family knew Lehrmann was the tenant of the luxury property, Mrs Meakes replied: “I don’t think anyone would be willing to rent the property to him, would they?”
The property is currently on the rental market with an asking price of just under $2,000 per week.
Lady Meakes is married to champion sailor Mark Richards, known for his long career as skipper of Wild Oats XI, nine-time winner of line honors at the annual Sydney-Hobart regatta.
The case is scheduled to return to court for further instructions on June 27.
In late May, Lehrmann lodged a last-minute appeal of his defamation loss in the Federal Court over a television interview in which allegations were aired that he raped fellow Liberal Brittany Higgins in Parliament in March 2019.
After a lengthy and closely watched trial, a judge concluded the rape allegations were probably true and dismissed the 28-year-old’s case against broadcaster Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
Lehrmann’s appeal came even though at the previous hearing the court had no financial backing in his case and his attorneys had worked on a no-win, no-fee basis.
He is expected to receive a multimillion-dollar legal bill to cover the costs of defending Ten and Wilkinson in the defamation trial.
Details of Lehrmann’s deal with Seven to pay rent for the Balgowlah property were revealed during the defamation trial as the court scrutinized his agreement for a tell-all interview on its flagship current affairs program Spotlight.
Her previous criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court over the rape allegation was aborted due to jury misconduct and prosecutors decided not to pursue the case due to concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
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