Crucial decision date set for Bruce Lehrmann defamation lawsuits

The Federal Court will soon hand down a decision on whether former political staffer can proceed with his defamation case against two media companies.

The Federal Court has set a date to hand down its decision on whether former political staffer

Bruce Lehrmann can proceed with his defamation case against two media companies.

Earlier this year, Mr Lehrmann launched defamation action against News Corp’s News Life Media and its journalist Samantha Maiden as well as Network 10 and its presenter Lisa Wilkinson.

He claims the media companies defamed him in their two-year-old coverage of the allegations by Brittany Higgins that he raped her at Parliament House in March 2019.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing three Australian media companies for defamation. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Lehrmann was not named in the reports at the time but claims he was nevertheless identified by the media companies.

The defamation suits have been stalled as the media companies fight to have the lawsuits thrown out of court.

They argue that Mr Lehrmann missed the 12-month deadline for launching defamation action by a full year, so the lawsuits should not be allowed to proceed.

The former political advisor has argued that he delayed the proceedings due to ongoing criminal proceedings related to the allegations, legal advice to delay, and health issues.

Justice Michael Lee will hand down his decision on whether the defamation lawsuits can proceed on April 28.

The decision is due to be handed down at the same time as the first case management hearing of a third defamation case involving Mr Lehrmann which began only a few days ago.

Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal Party staff member, spoke at the National Press Club last year. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Documents were filed with the Federal Court on April 6 which show the former political staffer is also suing the ABC over its broadcast of Ms Higgins’ address to the National Press Club on February 9, 2022.

Mr Lehrmann claims the live broadcast of the address implied he had raped Ms Higgins on a couch at Parliament House in March 2019. He was not named in the speech.

He has repeatedly denied the allegations and the criminal charge against him was dropped after a trial in the ACT was abandoned due to juror misconduct.

Originally published as Crucial decision date set for Bruce Lehrmann defamation lawsuits