Bruce Lehrmann asked for $13,250 following alleged ‘extensive damage’ to Sydney apartment
Bruce Lehrmann is being asked to pay $13,250 after alleged ‘extensive damage’ at a multimillion-dollar Sydney property provided by the Seven Network.
Bruce Lehrmann is being asked to pay $13,250 for alleged “extensive damage” at the multimillion-dollar property in the north-eastern Sydney suburb of Balgowlah provided for him by Seven Network, and pay lost rent.
The former Liberal staffer failed on Wednesday to appear at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where on Wednesday it was heard Lady Gaenor Meakes, the property owner who launched proceedings against him, was seeking $13,250 for coverage of alleged damage.
Her daughter Matilda Meakes, a paralegal appearing on her behalf, confirmed the scope of the claim, stating $13,250 was the amount her mother was claiming. The bond payable for the premises was $10,600.
Mr Lehrmann recently filed an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court following his landmark defamation suit loss in April this year during which Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that he sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House on the morning of March 23, 2019. The defamation suit was against presenter Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10.
For the Balgowlah apartment, there are two proceedings against Mr Lehrmann: the first, relating to alleged property damage and the second to loss of outstanding rent, with the tribunal previously hearing the two proceedings would likely run together.
Ms Meakes said the parties had come to conciliation for the damages.
“Just to clarify, the agent at the time advised my mum to lodge an application for damages and for loss of rent. She advised us to do it separately,” Ms Meakes said.
“We’ve already came to conciliation for the damages, and now this is the [application] for loss of rent,” she said.
The tribunal heard that had Mr Lehrmann appeared on Wednesday – either in person or via audio-visual link (AVL) – conciliation over the rent would have commenced.
“If the tenant was in appearance we would pursue a process of conciliation, but as of yet there is no appearance either in the tribunal’s AVL line or in person,” NCAT member Elizabeth Sarofim said.
Previously, the tribunal had heard Lady Meakes was unable to re-list the apartment immediately when Mr Lehrmann vacated it “because of the cleaning that had to be done”.
During Mr Lehrmann’s defamation trial, Mr Lehrmann revealed Seven paid his rent at the apartment for a full year in exchange for an exclusive interview on its flagship current affairs show, Spotlight. The rent cost the network $2000 a week, amounting to more than $100,000 total.
Outside the tribunal, Ms Meakes said they did not know Mr Lehrmann was the tenant when the lease was first signed.
“It’s been a ride,” Ms Meakes said.
When asked to elaborate on the nature of the damage, she said: “We’ll find out, hey”.
She said the new property was now being advertised with a new agent.
The Australian understands Mr Lehrmann’s name was on the lease, but the property was paid for through Seven’s finance department.
Ms Meakes said she was surprised when they found out Mr Lehrmann was living in the Balgowlah property.
The matter will be heard for directions on 27 June.
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