Overview

• The WA Supreme Court found two of three social media posts by Brittany Higgins defamatory, with a third protected as honest opinion and qualified privilege.
• Justice Paul Tottle ordered Higgins to pay $315,000 in damages plus $26,000 in interest to Linda Reynolds, with no costs awarded on the protected post.
• Higgins did not testify for medical reasons and defended the posts through counsel, who argued truth, honest opinion and public interest privilege.
• Reynolds had sought roughly $500,000 and argued the posts harmed her reputation and health, while Higgins may consider an appeal.
• David Sharaz did not contest the separate claim against him, with any damages to be assessed separately following the trial that featured more than 20 witnesses, including Scott Morrison.