Craig McLachlan presses on with multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit after not guilty decision

Actor Craig McLachlan, who was this week found not guilty of all assault charges against co-stars while performing in a musical, was back in court today.

Craig McLachlan is moving ahead with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against a co-star who aired allegations of misconduct and three news outlets with the matter headed for a four-week jury trial, a court has heard.

The Gold Logie-winning actor was this week acquitted by a Melbourne court of allegations he performed indecent acts on four female co-stars during a 2014 Rocky Horror Picture show stage production.

He was found not guilty of 13 charges - seven of indecent assault and six counts of common assault - in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr McLachlan is suing the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and co-star Christie Whelan-Browne for defamation and seeking damages.

In a brief mention of the matter in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, McLachlan’s barrister said that the former Home and Away and Neighbours star was seeking a four-week trial next year.

Actor Craig McLachlan and partner Vanessa Scammell speak after the Gold Logie winner was acquitted of assault charges. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Barrister Lyndelle Barnett, for the defendants, said Ms Whelan-Browne was due to give birth in March 2021 and asked that the trial go ahead later in the year.

While the magistrate found the women in the criminal trial were “brave and honest witnesses”, she said the allegations against Mr McLachlan had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The NSW Supreme Court heard on Friday that while there would be factual overlap between the criminal and civil cases, Justice John Sackar said that did not guarantee an outcome in any civil case.

Justice Sackar urged the parties to go into mediation to resolve the issue.

“No trial is cheap,” Justice Sackar said.

“And it’s not certain what happens in Victoria will flow through at all… I would have thought that common sense would dictate both parties would sit down and talk.”

The court heard that the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Ms Whelan-Brown were considering magistrate Belinda Wallington’s full judgment and were set to issue subpoenas to obtain evidence from the criminal trial.

Craig McLachlan in his dressing room before a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Photo: Calum Robertson

McLachlan launched the defamation proceedings in early 2018 and it was due to go to trial in 2019 however it was adjourned when criminal charges were laid.

During proceedings in 2018, the court heard that McLachlan was seeking $6.5 million.

McLachlan’s lawyer Mark O’Brien this week said the 55-year-old would be seeking aggravated damages and fighting back against the “false allegations.”

During his criminal trial, Mr McLachlan maintained the alleged incidents were either consensual or did not happen.

“We’ve maintained a dignified and a respectful silence for the past almost three years and put our trust in the law and here we are today,” McLachlan said after he was found not guilty.