Lisa Wilkinson feared losing multimillion dollar mansion amid Lehrmann lawsuit

Lisa Wilkinson was described in court documents as ‘almost hysterical’ with fears she could lose her mansion in a defamation battle with Bruce Lehrmann.

Lisa Wilkinson was “almost hysterical” when she thought she might have to sell her family’s multimillion-dollar mansion to pay for her legal fees in a defamation lawsuit launched by Bruce Lehrmann, according to court documents.

In internal emails released by the Federal Court on Friday, Network 10 chief executive Beverley McGarvey noted The Project star’s concerns.

Ms McGarvey rang Ms Wilkinson on June 7 last year for a welfare check, which lasted 30 minutes, and took notes of the conversation in which she noted the journalist’s distress.

“She was almost immediately upset and started talking about her legal fees and how she would have to sell her house,” she said.

“I would say her tone was almost hysterical.”

Lisa Wilkinson was concerned she would lose her house due to the cost of the defamation trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

In her notes, Ms McGarvey noted Ms Wilkinson was still being paid a full salary and “lives in a lavish (multimillion-dollar) home with a pool and a tennis court and harbour views, so I hope this is not a real risk”.

Justice Michael Lee this week ruled the journalist’s costs would be paid by Network 10 after a fierce legal battle over whether she was entitled to engage her own legal team.

Mr Lehrmann is suing Ms Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court for defamation over her interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project in 2021. He claims the interview conveyed he was guilty of raping Ms Higgins, which he has consistently denied.

His criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and a second trial was abandoned due to concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.

Ms McGarvey’s call about Ms Wilkinson followed an interview with Mr Lehrmann on Seven’s Spotlight program last June, which featured a leaked audio recording from a pre-interview meeting between Wilkinson, her producer, Brittany Higgins, and Ms Higgins’ partner David Sharaz.

In the Spotlight interview, Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins could be heard war-gaming how to recruit prominent politicians and media figures over the upcoming interview with Ms Higgins.

Ms McGarvey said in the call she made to check on Ms Wilkinson, the journalist was “very upset and emotional and it was a very challenging call”.

Mr Lehrmann alleges Ms Wilkinson’s interview of Brittany Higgins was defamatory.

Ms McGarvey noted Network 10 had received invoices for $20,000 from her lawyers and she was still getting paid on full salary.

“She said if I actually cared about her, I would make sure we paid her legal fees,” Ms McGarvey’s notes recorded.

“She was very angry at times and very upset at others, sobbing so much she could not talk.

“The recurring theme was she did not believe we were supporting her and in fact she went so far as to accuse us of hating her (she may have used a different but equally strong word).”

In July 2022, Mr Lehrmann’s trial was delayed for several months after Ms Wilkinson made a Logies acceptance speech in which she referenced Ms Higgins.

In December 2022, the ACT Director of Public Prosecution Shane Drumgold dropped the charge against Mr Lehrmann.

Originally published as Lisa Wilkinson feared losing multimillion dollar mansion amid Lehrmann lawsuit