Linda Reynolds Wins Defamation Case Against Brittany Higgins, Leading to Bankruptcy Orders
Linda Reynolds, former Liberal defence minister, has won a defamation case against Brittany Higgins over social-media posts. The Western Australia supreme court found Higgins had defamed Reynolds and awarded Reynolds damages of $315,000 plus $26,109 in interest. Higgins was also ordered to pay 80% of Reynolds’ legal costs, estimated to be over $1 million.
As a result, Western Australian federal court judge Michael Feutrill sequestrated Higgins’ estate under the Bankruptcy Act, with the act backdated to 8 October. This bankruptcy aims to reveal how much of Higgins’ $2.4 million Commonwealth settlement remains, helping Reynolds to recoup legal costs.
The 360-page judgment found that Higgins made 26 false or misleading statements in media interviews following the alleged sexual assault. The defamation case addressed imputations that Reynolds harassed Higgins, mishandled her rape allegation, and behaved questionably during Bruce Lehrmann’s aborted trial. Following the ruling, Higgins apologised to Reynolds.
Additionally, Higgins’ husband, David Sharaz, was served with a bankruptcy notice by Reynolds after being found to have defamed her. Sharaz is expected to declare bankruptcy and was ordered to pay about $85,000 in damages plus interest and costs.
The judgment also included findings relating to Higgins’ 2019 rape allegation and related events. Lehrmann’s related case found, on the balance of probabilities, that Higgins was raped by Lehrmann; he unsuccessfully appealed the verdict and is considering a High Court challenge.
