By Elizabeth Byrne, ABC
Sue Chrysanthou SC hugs Lisa Wilkinson as they emerge from court on 15 April 2024. Photo: Getty Images / Don Arnold
Network Ten has been ordered to pay journalist Lisa Wilkinson more than $1 million to cover costs incurred for her personal legal representation in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case.
Lehrmann had taken Ten and Wilkinson to court claiming he was defamed by an interview with Brittany Higgins when she first made public allegations she'd been raped at Parliament House.
Lehrmann's criminal trial ended with no findings against him because of a juror's misconduct, and he has always maintained his innocence.
He lost the defamation case last year when Justice Michael Lee ruled that on the balance of probabilities he had raped Higgins, although he is now appealing against that decision.
In the background, Lisa Wilkinson had been locked in a battle with Ten over her legal costs.
Court documents reveal Ten has already paid her AU$558,548.30 (NZ$618,458.19)
Now the parties have agreed the total amount of indemnity to be paid should be $1,150,000.00 (NZ$1,273,349).
Ten has until 19 March to pay the balance.
Wilkinson initially sought $1.8m
Wilkinson employed high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou to represent her in the case.
Initially she asked for $1.8 million (NZ$1.9 million) in costs.
The court eventually ordered a referee to assess the situation, considering billable hours and other costs incurred by the lawyers.
But the case isn't quite over yet, with a further issue to be determined next month.
At the end of the defamation trial Justice Lee ordered Lehrmann to pay Network Ten $2 million (NZ$2.2 million).
But lawyers have since told the court they worked "pro bono" and he has no funds.
His appeal against the ruling will be heard later this year.
-The story was originally published by ABC.
