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Brittany Higgins Drops Appeal in Defamation Case, Faces Bankruptcy Proceedings
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Brittany Higgins has discontinued her appeal of a Western Australian Supreme Court ruling that found she defamed former boss and Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, bringing a contentious legal battle to a close while concurrently facing new financial pressures. Teh decision comes after Justice Paul Tottle ordered Ms. Higgins to pay $315,000 in damages, plus over $26,000 in interest, following a trial centered on social media posts deemed defamatory.
Reynolds’ Victory and Mounting Costs
In August, Justice Tottle determined that Ms. Higgins and her husband, David Sharaz, had engaged in conduct that damaged Senator Reynolds’ reputation.The court heard accusations from Ms. Reynolds that her former staffer orchestrated a campaign aimed at ending her political career. Last month, the judge further ordered Ms. Higgins to cover 80% of Ms. Reynolds’ legal costs, a figure estimated to exceed $1 million by Ms. Reynolds’ legal counsel.
Ms.Higgins initially filed a last-minute appeal in September, contesting both the defamation finding and the cost order. However, on Monday, she formally lodged a notice with the WA Supreme Court to discontinue the appeal.
Bankruptcy Proceedings Intensify financial Strain
The appeal withdrawal arrives just one week after Senator Reynolds initiated bankruptcy proceedings against Ms. Higgins in the Federal Court. Mr. Sharaz has also been served with bankruptcy papers, given a 21-day window to settle his debt or face formal bankruptcy proceedings.
The defamation action stemmed from a series of social media posts made by Ms. Higgins beginning in 2022. Senator Reynolds argued that these posts significantly harmed her reputation and caused considerable distress, especially during a period of ill health.
A Complex Case Rooted in Allegations of Sexual assault
the current legal battles are inextricably linked to allegations of sexual assault. Ms. Higgins wrote the posts four years after she alleged she was raped in Senator Reynolds’ office by a colleague, Bruce Lehrmann. A separate defamation action brought by Mr. Lehrmann against Channel 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson resulted in Justice Michael Lee finding, on the balance of probabilities, that the alleged rape did occur.
It’s vital to note that separate criminal proceedings against Mr. Lehrmann were ultimately discontinued due to juror misconduct and concerns regarding Ms. Higgins’ wellbeing.Mr. Lehrmann has consistently denied the allegations.
Higgins Expresses regret and Focuses on Healing
Following Justice Tottle’s initial judgment, Ms. Higgins released a statement expressing gratitude for the conclusion of the matter. She acknowledged that her actions had caused Senator Reynolds distress, stating, “I accept that Ms Reynolds’ feelings were hurt by events since I was allegedly sexually assaulted in her office, and I am sorry for that.” Ms. Higgins expressed a desire to move forward with her family, focusing on “healing and rebuilding our lives.”
Senator Reynolds never contested Ms. Higgins’ allegations regarding Mr. Lehrmann.
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