Judge calls sudden hearing in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case – as it’s revealed Lisa Wilkinson is suing Network 10 for legal fees
The judge presiding over Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case has suddenly called a hearing – the day after this became known, Lisa Wilkinson launched civil proceedings against Network 10.
Judge Michael Lee rushed this week to schedule a case management hearing in Mr. Lehrmann’s civil case against the TV star and her employer, Channel 10. The new hearing will take place next Tuesday, October 24, in federal court from Sydney.
It is understood that the new court date came as a surprise to the parties involved, as no further hearings were scheduled until the first day of the defamation trial, on November 22.
The purpose of the new hearing is unclear, but the decision was put on the federal court docket one day after reports that Wilkinson is suing her workplace for more than $700,000 in legal fees.
Wilkinson received these fees because she hired her own team of defamation specialists to defend her in Mr Lehrmann’s case, rather than using Thomson Geer – the firm Network 10 had a retainer.
The case management hearing came one day after reports that Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) is suing the network for more than $700,000 in legal fees.
As the case relates to a case currently pending in the Federal Court before Judge Lee, it is unclear why Wilkinson’s legal team has filed a separate case in the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers filed claims and initiated legal action against the media giant in February.
The case is based on a 2021 episode of The Project, in which Brittany Higgins alleged to Wilkinson that she was raped by “a male colleague” at Parliament House in 2019.
Mr Lehrmann was not mentioned by name during the TV programme, but he claims he was identifiable in parliamentary circles as Ms Higgins’ alleged rapist. He has always maintained his innocence.
In court documents in Wilkinson’s case, Wilkinson’s legal team claims the network accepted in March and June this year that it was liable to compensate the TV star even if she was ‘independently represented’.
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) sues Network 10 and Wilkinson for defamation in Federal Court
On September 25, Wilkinson sent the network an invoice for $353,538.88. Less than a week later, she sent a second invoice for another $370,017, claiming she still had not been paid by Ten.
Court documents say she is willing to hold a mediation session with the network.
Wilkinson is still employed by Channel 10, although she has not appeared on television for the network since November last year.
Wilkinson’s legal costs case against Network 10 will begin in the NSW Supreme Court on November 3.
Two weeks later, on November 22, Mr Lehrmann’s defamation trial will begin in Sydney Federal Court.