Lisa Wilkinson sues Network 10 over Bruce Lehrmann defamation suit costs
Wilkinson claims her employer failed to pay more than $700,000 to cover her legal costs in their defamation suit with Bruce Lehrmann.
NSW
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High-profile media identity Lisa Wilkinson is suing Network 10, claiming her employer reneged on an agreement to cover her legal costs in their defamation suit with Bruce Lehrmann.
Wilkinson hired star barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC and Gillis Delaney Lawyers partner Anthony Jefferies earlier this year, instead of opting to use Thomson Geer – the law firm Network 10 has on retainer – to defend her after Lehrmann sued over a Logie Award-winning interview she did with Brittany Higgins in 2021.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Wilkinson has now claimed the TV network is refusing to pay two invoices — each of more than $350,000 and totalling more than $720,000 — for services by Ms Chrysanthou and Mr Jefferies, sparking the veteran journalist to launch action in the NSW Supreme Court.
Court documents filed by Wilkinson’s legal team claim that twice, in March and June this year, Network 10 accepted they were liable to indemnify the TV star even if she was “independently represented”.
Network 10 initially requested they pay Wilkinson’s court costs in bulk fashion at the end of the defamation trial with Lehrmann, which they claimed would allow them to add on any “costs orders” made in his favour.
Court documents detail how Wilkinson’s lawyers said that approach was not reasonable, as it would leave her significantly out of pocket and in a way “defeat the purpose of the indemnity”.
“The plaintiff (would be left) with the burden of having to find the ways and means to fund her defence of the claim to which she had become exposed as an employee,” the documents state.
And so, in May the former The Project host sent Network 10 an invoice for $375,728.63.
But the TV network refused to pay, with their lawyers claiming “that substantial unnecessary work had been undertaken”, in its initial review of Wilkinson’s invoices, according to the court documents.
What that “unnecessary work” was though, was not “identified”, the former Today Show host and Cleo magazine editor’s lawyers claim.
Wilkinson’s legal team sent a new invoice to Network 10 on September 25, “providing the defendant with more detailed narrations and other information requested by the defendant (Network 10)” after the first letter.
That saw the total amount Wilkinson claimed to be out of pocket reduced to $353,538.88.
Less than a week later they sent a second bill for $370,017.00, which Wilkinson claims was also not paid..
“The defendant has still not paid the plaintiff any amount in respect of any item of work or any dollar of cost and expense described in the invoices and narrations provided to the defendant,” documents filed by the TV star’s lawyers state.
The document ends with Wilkinson’s lawyers claiming she is “willing” to go to mediation with Network 10.
TEN RESPONDS
A spokesperson form Network Ten said: “The lawyers engaged by Lisa Wilkinson have issued invoices for a very substantial amount of money, in excess of $700,000, and in good governance these need to be justified through due process.
“In the meantime, Network 10’s focus is on defending the defamation claim brought by Bruce Lehrmann.”
A spokesperson for the Lehrmann team said “That is an ongoing internal matter for them, we are focused and very much look forward to clearing Bruce’s name and holding the media to account at the upcoming trial in November.”
Wilkinson is being represented in her civil suit against Network 10 by Anthony Jefferies.
Wilkinson announced she was leaving The Project last November, four years after moving over from Nine’s flagship breakfast program Today in a highly controversial move.
Her interview with Brittany Higgins saw her nominated for two Walkley Awards and win a Logie Award.
Lehrmann launched legal action against multiple outlets, including Network 10 and Wilkinson, earlier this year.
The defamation trial is finally expected to start on 22 November in the federal court, with both Higgins and Lehrmann are expected to give evidence.
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