‘I’m finished’: Judge finished with Wilkinson, Network 10 legal costs stoush over Bruce Lehrmann defamation

Justice Micheal Lee has emphatically declared; ‘I’m not having any more to do with it,’ after Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson’s cost dispute returned to court.

The Federal Court judge who presided over Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation battle with Network 10 has declared he is finished with the case after a prolonged battle over legal costs.

Lawyers acting for both Network 10 and former The Project host Lisa Wilkinson returned to court on Wednesday afternoon after a $1.15m bill for Ms Wilkinson’s costs was finally agreed last month.

But the two parties disputed whether Ms Wilkinson was entitled to be reimbursed for further legal expenses incurred during and after court-ordered mediation last year.

Ms Wilkinson argued they were properly incurred costs because earlier offers to resolve by Network 10 were less than the final sum, while Ten argued each party should just pay their own costs.

Lisa Wilkinson will be reimbursed about $1.15m for legal costs. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

The court was told Network 10 had offered $900,000 before Ms Wilkinson made her first offer to resolve in late January at $1.5m.

They split the difference and agreed to $1.15m.

Seemingly exasperated the legal dispute had carried on since April 2024 – when Justice Lee found the network had not defamed Bruce Lehrmann – he adjourned the court for five minutes before delivering a ruling.

“I do not find either party acted unreasonably but this is not the same as concluding each party acted equally reasonably,” he said.

“Given the nature of the dispute, it is regrettable Ms Wilkinson took so long to make an offer.”

The court battle began because the network aired a segment where Brittany Higgins alleged she had been raped by a colleague. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Justice Lee told the court he would not make an order as to any additional legal expenses and each party would pay their own.

“Give an agreement has been reached, it is difficult to see a clearer case where each party should bear their own costs,” he said.

But soon after, Network Ten’s lawyer rose to her feet to request Ms Wilkinson be forced to pay the cost for Wednesday’s hearing.

Justice Michael Lee delivered his judgment on Lehrmann vs Channel 10 defamation case nearly one year ago. Picture: Supplied

Justice Lee said “for the purpose of bringing this longstanding matter to its final conclusion”, any further outstanding costs orders will be taxed.

“I’m not having any more to do with it, I’m finished with this matter.”

The ruling draws to a close an almost year-long dispute between Ms Wilkinson and Network 10 after the journalist hired her own legal team for Mr Lehrmann’s high-stakes lawsuit.

The defamation battle was dismissed in April last year after Justice Lee found – on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities – that the former political staffer had raped Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in March 2019.

Mr Lehrmann had sued for defamation and damages. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Lehrmann has appealed that decision, with the Full Court of the Federal Court set to hear the appeal later this year.

He stood trial in the ACT Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting Ms Higgins, but the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct.

The charges were subsequently dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions due to concerns about Ms Higgins’ mental health.

Originally published as ‘I’m finished’: Judge finished with Wilkinson, Network 10 legal costs stoush over Bruce Lehrmann defamation