‘Obsessed’ Brittany Higgins banned Ten from doing any deals with Bruce Lehrmann in defamation suit before agreeing to help them, claim lawyers

Brittany Higgins was so obsessed with pursuing Bruce Lehrmann over an alleged sexual assault that she refused to help Ten defend its defamation case unless they agreed not to settle, his lawyers say.

In a statement made public on Friday, Lehrmann’s side argues that Ms Higgins’ credibility is so poor that the court should reject her testimony entirely unless corroborated by another source.

“No confidence can be placed in Ms. Higgins’s understanding of her obligation to tell the truth under oath or on the most solemn occasions,” Lehrmann said.

Ms Higgins was “willing to tell lies” both to the federal government to obtain a “life-changing” settlement of almost $2.5 million, and to an ACT criminal court during a now-dropped prosecution of Lehrmann, it said document.

The former Liberal media consultant had an “obsession” with securing justice against her alleged rapist through the courts, including in his defamation case against Network Ten, Lehrmann argued.

Bruce Lehrmann’s legal team (pictured) claims Higgins’ credibility is so poor that ‘no confidence can be placed’ in her

Lehrmann is suing Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a February 2021 report on The Project in which Ms Higgins was interviewed about her alleged rape at Parliament House.

She claims Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in March 2019 in the office of their then-boss, Sen. Linda Reynolds.

In agreeing to help Ten defend the defamation case, Ms Higgins said the network should not make any offer to Lehrmann to pay him damages, retract the articles, apologize or cover his legal costs pay.

“That is an extraordinary position for a witness,” Lehrmann’s statement said.

In the document, Lehrmann continued his denial that any sexual activity had taken place, saying there were “too many other plausible possibilities” about what had happened and why Ms Higgins was later found naked in Senator Reynolds’ office.

Bruce Lehrmann sues Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson (pictured)

She could have thrown up on her dress and taken it off or taken it off because she was afraid it would make her sick, the entry said.

‘The crucial point is that there are a number of plausible explanations as to why Ms Higgins, while under the influence of alcohol, took off her dress and lay naked on the Minister’s sofa.’

Even if the court were to reject the claims that nothing happened, it would still have to find that Ms. Higgins could not give consent to prove rape occurred, the statement said.

Lehrmann also sued News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over their reporting of Ms Higgins’ allegations.

Both cases have been settled, with the ex-Liberal staffer receiving $445,000 in legal fees under the agreements.

The trial against Ten has been completed and the verdict will be handed down at a later date.

Lehrmann was charged with alleged rape in August 2021, but his criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.

Prosecutors did not request a second trial because they were concerned about Ms. Higgins’ mental health.

Lehrmann is also accused in the Queensland courts of raping another woman twice in Toowoomba in October 2021.

He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyers have indicated he denies the charges.