No say for Senator Linda Reynolds on Brittany Higgins’ claims
The former defence minister won’t be able to contest any allegations brought by Brittany Higgins against her in court as the former Liberal staffer pursues mediation to settle a civil claim.
Former defence minister Linda Reynolds won’t be able to contest any allegations brought by Brittany Higgins against her in court, as the former Liberal staffer pursues mediation to settle a civil claim against the commonwealth.
Ms Higgins is set to head to mediation next Tuesday in a bid to reach an out-of-court settlement with the commonwealth.
Sources aware of the matter said Senator Reynolds, whose parliamentary office Ms Higgins alleged she was raped in during the early hours of March 23, 2019, had wanted the claims against her made public so she could fight them. “This is what she was fighting to prevent,” a source said of the mediation.
The statute of limitations for Ms Higgins to sue her former commonwealth employers Senator Reynolds and Michaelia Cash expired in March, preventing the 28-year-old from bringing a claim after that date.
But sources familiar with the matter said Senator Reynolds had agreed to waive the time limit until December 6, while Senator Cash and the commonwealth agreed on a waiver until February. Because no documents have been filed and the December 6 deadline has passed, The Australian was told Senator Reynolds could no longer be listed as a respondent in the case.
She has insisted any claims against her are tested in court. For that to happen, documents had to have been filed. Senator Reynolds declined to comment, as did Ms Higgins’ lawyer, Noor Blumer.
“Noor Blumer and Blumers Lawyers will not be responding to or commenting on any aspect of this confidential matter,” Ms Blumer’s spokesman said.
It is understood Ms Higgins is pursuing Senator Reynolds, Senator Cash and the commonwealth for around $3m.
Senator Reynolds was forced to apologise to Ms Higgins after it was revealed in The Australian she had called her former staffer “a lying cow”, prompting Ms Higgins to pursue defamation action.
Senator Reynolds, who was on medical leave at the time and a senior cabinet minister, had to pay damages to Ms Higgins, which were donated to a sexual assault charity.
The former colleague Ms Higgins accused of rape, Bruce Lehrmann, pleaded not guilty in a criminal trial and denied any sexual intercourse took place.
The original trial was aborted over juror misconduct and the ACT DPP, Shane Drumgold, announced last week a retrial would not go ahead and charges against Mr Lehrmann had been dropped over concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
Ms Higgins is being cared for in hospital.
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