Attorneys for the Liberal senator threaten to take case to WA supreme court docket as they pursue an apology and damages over tweets
The Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has despatched a formaldefamationcomplaint toDavid Sharaz, the companion of former authorities staffer Brittany Higgins, over tweets her attorneys declare brought on harm that “can't be underestimated”.
Attorneys for the Reynolds have threatened to take the case to Western Australia’s supreme court docket as they pursue an apology and damages from the journalist, claiming he made “inaccurate and professionally damaging” criticisms of her on-line.
Reynolds was a cupboard minister and Higgins’s boss on the time the staffer claimed she was raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann on a sofa contained in the minister’s Parliament Home workplace in 2019. Higgins has been extremely essential of Reynolds’s response to the allegations, claiming she felt strain from the then minister to not pursue a police grievance.
Lehrmann was charged however a trial was aborted late final 12 months attributable to juror misconduct. Prosecutors later dropped expenses in opposition to Lehrmann, saying a retrial would pose an “unacceptable threat” to Higgins’s well being.
Attorneys for Reynolds, Perth agency Bennett, despatched a issues discover on 6 January to Sharaz, who lives in Queensland, below Western Australia’s Defamation Act. It raises issues about two tweets, revealed to Sharaz’s Twitter account in January and December 2022, which reference Reynolds.
The senator’s attorneys declare the tweets carried defamatory imputations that the senator bullied and continues to bully Higgins, that she interfered with the investigation and trial of prison proceedings, and that she leaked privileged materials relating to the compensation declare settled between Higgins and the federal authorities.
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Her attorneys state that these imputations are “false, with out foundation and represent critical defamations of my shopper”.
“The harm this has brought on and continues to trigger my shopper can't be underestimated,” the discover reads.
It additionally notes Sharaz’s tweets had been reported by a number of media shops. The discover seeks an apology and retraction of the tweets, cost of Reynolds’ authorized prices, and an “acceptable sum” of compensation.
“From 1 July 2022, the utmost award of damages for non-economic loss arising from a defamatory publication is $443,000,” the discover reads.
It notes that Reynolds reserves her proper to begin defamation proceedings in WA’s supreme court docket, and threatens an utility for an injunction to stop Sharaz publishing additional tweets concerning the senator.
Courtroom paperwork present Reynolds has complained about tweets on 27 January 2022 and 4 December 2022.
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Reynolds is looking for damages together with aggravated damages and an injunction restraining Sharaz from publishing additional defamatory materials or “phrases considerably comparable thereto”, the paperwork present.
She has additionally claimed “curiosity on damages... on the charge of 6% from the date of publication to the date of judgment”.
Sharaz is known to be represented by Leon Zwier of Sydney agency Arnold Bloch Leibler.
Sharaz and Reynolds had been contacted for remark. An Arnold Bloch Leibler spokesperson declined to remark.
It’s understood Sharaz doesn't plan to settle the case.
Reynolds, who gave proof throughout Lehrmann’s trial, was accused of trying to “coach” defence attorneys throughout the cross-examination of Higgins and inappropriately looking for to acquire transcripts of her proof previous to coming to court docket.
In 2021 Reynolds apologised to Brittany Higgins for calling her “a mendacity cow”, in feedback made privately however subsequently publicly reported, and agreed to pay authorized prices and make a donation to a sexual assault charity as a part of a confidential settlement.
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