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Bruce Lehrmann has retained a top-notch defamation lawyer as his list of media hits gains a spotlight, including ABC for airing Brittany Higgins’ National Press Club speech and Lisa Wilkinson for her interview with the former employee.
It comes as Ms Higgins turned 28 on Wednesday with a coffee delivered to her hospital ward by her boyfriend David Sharaz. Daily Mail Australia understands that it is still very bad.
Meanwhile, Mr Lehrmann retained one of Australia’s most respected libel law firms, Mark O’Brien Legal, after the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the sexual assault charge against him.
“We are acting on the matter,” lead counsel Paul Svilans told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday morning. “We are looking to assess whether there is a matter that is actionable.”
It is understood that Mr. Lehrmann will give “strong consideration” to filing lawsuits against various media companies and Twitter identities.
Daily Mail Australia first reported that the list includes Ms Wilkinson, the producers of The Project (Rove McManus’ Roving Enterprises), Network Ten and parent company Paramount.
ABC is also expected to be in the firing line for comments made during the National Press Club’s February 2021 appearance during a speech by Ms Higgins and Grace Tame.
Several other titles are also expected to be slapped with lawsuits.
On Wednesday, Ms Higgins’ boyfriend, David Sharaz, uploaded an Instagram story wishing her a happy birthday.
Mr Lehrmann (pictured) will work with Sydney libel specialist Mark O’Brien after it was revealed he was considering personally suing Channel 10 and Ms Wilkinson for libel over a February 2021 interview at The Project.
DPP chief Shane Drumgold announced Friday that he would not proceed with a second trial against Lehrmann, after the first was aborted in October due to juror misconduct, amid fears it would negatively affect the Higgins mental health.
Mr Lehrmann was alleged to have raped her inside Parliament in March 2019. He has pleaded not guilty to non-consensual sex and has strongly denied the allegations against him.
On Wednesday, Ms Higgins’ boyfriend, David Sharaz, uploaded an Instagram story wishing her a happy birthday. He also posted happy birthday messages to his own Instagram account, including one from her mother and close friends of hers.
Ms Higgins first alleged she was raped by a ‘male colleague’ during an interview with Ms Wilkinson in February 2021, later won by the Logie current affairs show.
Sources with knowledge of the situation said Lehrmann will say he did not have an opportunity to respond to the allegations made on the show.
Lehrmann was not publicly named as Higgins’ alleged rapist until six months later, when he was indicted for sexual assault.
However, Channel 10 has also insisted that its news team approached Lehrmann for comment.
A Channel 10 spokesman said on Tuesday: “As usual, comments were requested but not provided. Red 10 has not received notice of any claim or proceeding.
Channel 10 boss Beverley McGarvey disputed Mr Drumgold’s claims that he had warned Ms Wilkinson that her Logies speech (pictured) could delay the first criminal trial.
Mr. Lehrmann has retained leading libel attorney Mark O’Brien (pictured) as he pursues a potential defamation action against Lisa Wilkinson and other media outlets.
The media and people who tweeted or shared the emotional speech Ms Higgins made in front of the ACT Supreme Court in October after the first trial was aborted could also be in the frame.
This includes posts that shared parts of speech that referenced the truth of Ms Higgin’s claims or posted the full monologue.
In addition, Mr. Lehrmann will also consider filing a formal professional complaint against Mr. Drumgold for comments made at his press conference.
The Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges against Mr. Lehrmann but reaffirmed his belief that there were “reasonable prospects” of conviction.
Lehrmann had been earning up to $200,000 a year as a senior adviser to the Liberal Party before losing his job at British American Tobacco in 2021.
The former Liberal staffer has been unable to get a job since the allegations became public, despite applying for several opportunities.
Channel 10 has insisted that its news team approached Lehrmann for comment ahead of airing the February 2021 interview with Higgins (pictured with Lisa Wilkinson)
Ms Higgins has launched civil cases against the Commonwealth and her former bosses, MP Linda Reynolds and Senator Michaelia Cash are complete.
It is unclear when Lehrmann will file a lawsuit.
It may not be until after Ms Higgins’ own civil cases against the Commonwealth and her former bosses, MP Linda Reynolds and Senator Michaelia Cash, are completed.
Ms. Higgins’ attorneys have sent documents to all parties that establish the intent to sue for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, neglect, and victimization.
She will claim $2.5 million for future economic losses, up to $100,000 for past economic losses, $100,000 for general damages, $20,000 for future assistance with chores, and $150,000 for past and future out-of-pocket expenses.
An official claim has yet to be filed as the parties involved prepare to start mediation talks on December 13.
Noor Blumer, a founding partner of Blumers Lawyers, is understood to have been quietly negotiating the claim since February. She has declined to comment on the matter or any mediation talks.
Ms Higgins’ lawyer, Leon Zwier, who supported her during the criminal case in Canberra, is aware of the claim.