It cost Lisa Wilkinson up to $8000 a day for her top silk, which she used to successfully defend Bruce Lehrmann in his slander lawsuit.
Former The Project star Wilkinson spent just over $1.8 million fighting the case, and the Federal Court was informed that he intended to foist Lehrmann with the lion’s share of the money following his stunning defeat.
The renowned silk Sue Chrysanthou SC and her junior, Barry Dean, had retainer agreements with the journalist, and was revealed that the senior counsel charged $8000 for each full day of the protracted defamation trial.
According to documents made public on Thursday, Chrysanthou also faced a minimum charge of $4000 if the court day ended before lunch.
Brief court appearances came with a $800 bill. Dean charged $3,500 for each day the case was in court as well as $350 for quick appearances.
Wilkinson also hired Gillis Delaney as her attorneys; if a partner was needed to work on her case, the hourly rate might reach $750.
In the defamation action, which Lehrmann lost in April, the parties are dividing up the costs, and the court has made the documents public.
Justice Michael Lee determined that the 28-year-old had not been defamed by a Network Ten report that detailed Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations, in one of the most eagerly awaited rulings in recent memory.
On the weight of evidence, the judge determined that Lehrmann had sexually assaulted the woman in an office at Parliament House.
Wilkinson conducted an interview with Higgins for a February 2021 episode of The Project.
She claimed to Ten that in March 2019, Lehrmann had sexually assaulted her in the boss’s office—that is, Senator Linda Reynolds’ office—a charge he has consistently refuted.
In May, Lee gave Lehrmann an order to reimburse Ten and Wilkinson for their legal fees on an indemnity basis, which is more than normal charges.
The former Liberal staffer’s criminal prosecution was finally abandoned due to juror misbehavior, and the judge found that he had falsely filed the complaint and lied to both the police and the jury.
Although Wilkinson is requesting $1.8 million in charges, Ten’s legal fees are still unknown.
Any reasonable expenditures incurred by Wilkinson will be reimbursed by Ten, who will then forward the bill to Lehrmann.
Lee stated on Monday that there might be a “limited prospect” for the former political staff member to be able to repay these sums.
Lehrmann can file an appeal of the decisions made against him until Friday.
