Bruce Lehrmann files libel lawsuit against the ABC over reports of rape allegations
Bruce Lehrmann files defamation lawsuit against the ABC over reports he raped parliamentarian Brittany Higgins
- Bruce Lehrmann sued the ABC
- He filed a case in Federal Court on Wednesday
- Channel Ten and news.com.au faced similar lawsuits
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has hit the ABC with a defamation lawsuit, continuing his attack on media outlets that reported rape allegations by Brittany Higgins.
On Wednesday, Mr. Lehrmann filed suit in Federal Court against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, nearly two months after suing Channel Ten and News Life Media, the company behind news.com.au, in similar lawsuits.
Ms Higgins accused Mr Lehrmann of raping her in the parliament building office of then-Secretary Minister Linda Reynolds, for whom they both worked in March 2019.
He denies the allegation, insisting the pair never had any sexual interaction.
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has hit the ABC with a defamation lawsuit, continuing his attack on media outlets that reported on Brittany Higgins’ rape claims
On Wednesday, Mr Lehrmann (pictured outside the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra) filed the case in Federal Court against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
A criminal case brought against Mr Lehrmann in the ACT High Court ended in October over misconduct by a juror. In December, the prosecution dropped the charges because of the impact a second trial would have on Ms. Higgins’ mental health.
The law student’s cases against Ten and News relate to reports in February 2021 on The Project and News.com.au about the rape allegations.
Former host of The Project, Lisa Wilkinson, and News.com.au political editor, Samantha Maiden, are both named in the lawsuits.
The media companies and Ms. Wilkinson are seeking to shut down the cases, arguing they were filed outside of a 12-month period normally required for libel charges.
Mr. Lehrmann states that he could not have filed the cases sooner because of the criminal charges, legal counsel and for mental health reasons.
Sydney law firm Mark O’Brien Legal is representing him in all three defamation suits.
The ABC did not comment on Wednesday.