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Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz flew in from France for a mediation hearing with their former boss Linda Reynolds.
But the two parties did not clash because the Western Australian Liberal senator wanted her own space on the court.
New details can be revealed from inside the mediation hearing between Ms Higgins, Mr Sharaz and Ms Reynolds on Monday.
It comes as Daily Mail Australia can reveal that a conference of the parties planned for Tuesday has been sensationally scrapped.
Brittany Higgins (right) and David Sharaz (left) were photographed leaving the David Malcolm Justice Center in Perth on Wednesday night after a nine-hour mediation.
Senator Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz for defamation, individually, in the Washington Supreme Court over a series of social media posts that she claims damaged her reputation.
On Monday, Higgins and Sharaz traveled to Perth from their new home in Lunas, France, for a court-ordered mediation session in the hope they can resolve the dispute and avoid a costly six-week trial.
The group entered the court at 10 a.m. Tuesday and left shortly before 7 p.m., without a resolution.
Daily Mail Australia understands Reynolds opted for a private room on Tuesday, away from the couple, which meant a mediator had to travel between the parties all day.
It is also understood that Ms Higgins was not allowed to bring a support person, which is why her best friend Emma Webster was absent.
Ms Webster was at Ms Higgins’ side during Bruce Lehrmann’s criminal trial and when Ms Higgins faced court over her defamation action against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
The group’s failure to reach an agreement after the nine-hour session could mean the dispute could go to trial later this year.
Appearing in court on Tuesday morning, Hs Higgins told reporters he believes they were all coming to the session “in good faith”.
Neither she nor Sharaz answered any questions as they left the court with their lawyers later that night.
Mrs Reynolds left with her solicitor Martin Bennett and his partner Robert Reid.
“A long day,” he told the waiting media, smiling broadly.
“It’s still ongoing, so it’s not appropriate for me to comment on it yet.”
Monday’s session was held because Judge Marcus Solomon urged the parties to resolve the matter before going to trial, citing the immense costs often associated with defamation proceedings.
Ms Reynolds’ defamation case centers on social media posts made by Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz.
He claims the posts implied that he pressured Ms Higgins not to proceed with a police report about her alleged rape and that he interfered with Mr Lehrmann’s criminal trial.
The couples did not meet face-to-face with Linda Reynolds (pictured Wednesday) after the senator requested a separate room while mediation talks between attorneys took place.
Higgins is also accused of violating a non-disparagement clause in a settlement agreement she entered into in 2021 that prevents her from speaking negatively about Reynolds.
The senator is seeking aggravated damages, an injunction to prevent Ms Higgins from publishing allegedly defamatory material and another injunction to prevent her from breaching the settlement agreement.
Ms Reynolds is simultaneously suing Mr Sharaz separately for allegedly defaming her in five social media posts, which were allegedly “falsely defamatory” and caused her “loss and damage”.
Higgins alleged Lehrmann raped her in Parliament in 2019, on the sofa of his former boss, Ms Reynolds. Mr. Lehrmann has continually denied the allegations.
Brittany Higgins and her partner David Sharaz are seen leaving the David Malcolm Justice Center in Perth after flying from their new home in France.