Network 10 moves to bankrupt Bruce Lehrmann over defamation costs

Network 10 has begun bankruptcy proceedings against former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann to recover legal costs from his failed defamation action. However, the network has been unable to serve him with the paperwork, The Australian reports. 

In a short statement to Mediaweek, Network 10 confirmed proceedings had begun.

Two sources told the publication that the network had found it “very very difficult” to serve Lehrmann after his multimillion-dollar lawsuit against 10 and presenter Lisa Wilkinson was dismissed. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to the sources, Lehrmann has effectively “gone to ground” and is actively evading service.

READ MORE: Bruce Lehrmann loses appeal against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson

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A $2 million bill, and a shortfall

Lehrmann was ordered to pay Network 10 $2 million in costs. That is well short of what the network spent: 10’s lawyers previously told the court its costs had reached $3.6 million.

Under Australian bankruptcy law, a creditor must serve a bankruptcy notice on a debtor before it can move to have them declared bankrupt.

How the defamation case ended

In April 2024, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee dismissed Lehrmann’s defamation claim against Network 10 and Wilkinson. On the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Justice Lee found that Lehrmann had raped former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins at Parliament House.

The action stemmed from Wilkinson’s February 2021 interview with Higgins on 10’s The Project, in which Higgins alleged she had been raped by a colleague. Lehrmann was not named in the broadcast. He has consistently denied the allegation. His 2022 criminal trial in the ACT was aborted because of juror misconduct, and the charge was later dropped.

Queensland trial delayed

Separately, Lehrmann was set to face trial in Queensland last week on two counts of rape. The proceedings were delayed after his solicitor said she had struggled to find a barrister to represent him.

The Queensland charges have not been tried.