The litigation is a part of Lehrmann’s persevering with assault towards media reporting of Higgins’ rape claims.
The case towards the ABC pertains to a joint handle by Higgins and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame on the National Press Club, which was aired by the broadcaster in February 2022.
During the speech, Higgins talked about the night time she was allegedly assaulted.
Though the handle by no means refers to Lehrmann by identify, his legal professionals declare the speech defamed him by inviting readers to invest concerning the identification of the particular person accused.
The case makes three separate complaints aimed on the completely different channels that aired the speech: the ABC Youtube, ABC News 24 and the primary ABC channel.
Cumulatively, the three channels garnered nearly 300,000 views.
By airing the speech reside on tv, the ABC couldn’t take away any defamatory statements earlier than publication, Lehrmann’s legal professionals acknowledged in courtroom paperwork.
Doing this whereas his felony trial over the identical allegation was pending prompted “serious harm to the reputation of the applicant”.
They additionally argued the ABC was “recklessly indifferent to the truth or falsity” of the declare by airing the speech reside with out giving Lehrmann an opportunity to reply.
The matter will face a primary case administration listening to on April 28.
Higgins accused Lehrmann of raping her contained in the Parliament House workplace of then-minister Linda Reynolds, who they each labored for in March 2019.
He denies the allegation, sustaining the pair by no means had any sexual interplay.
A felony trial introduced towards Lehrmann within the ACT Supreme Court was derailed in October due to juror misconduct.
In December, the prosecutor dropped the fees because of impacts a second trial would have on Higgins’ psychological well being.
The regulation scholar’s instances towards Ten and News relate to stories in February 2021 on The Project and News.com.au.
Former host of The Project, Lisa Wilkinson, and news.com.au political editor, Samantha Maiden, are each named within the lawsuits.
The media corporations and Wilkinson are attempting to close the instances down, arguing they have been filed exterior of a 12-month window sometimes required for defamation fits.
Lehrmann argues he couldn’t have filed the instances sooner due to the felony prices, authorized recommendation and for psychological well being causes.
Sydney regulation agency Mark O’Brien Legal is representing him in all three defamation proceedings.
The ABC has declined to remark.
Source: www.9news.com.au
