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last mo.

WA Supreme Court Finds Brittany Higgins Defamed Linda Reynolds, Awards $315,000

The ruling turns on 2022–23 social media posts, not the underlying rape allegation.

Former senator Linda Reynolds and Brittany Higgins (Images: AAP)
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Overview

  • Justice Paul Tottle ordered Brittany Higgins to pay $315,000 in damages plus about $26,000 in interest after finding two posts defamatory.
  • A July 4, 2023 Instagram story and a January 27, 2022 tweet for which Higgins was held a publisher were found to convey harmful imputations about Linda Reynolds.
  • A July 20, 2022 tweet was protected as honest opinion and qualified privilege, so no damages were awarded on that count.
  • The judge declared Higgins breached a 2021 settlement deed, rejected a conspiracy claim, and declined to impose a permanent injunction, with legal costs still to be determined.
  • Higgins issued an apology for the hurt caused, Reynolds said her reputation was vindicated, and related matters continue including Reynolds’ case against the Commonwealth and Bruce Lehrmann’s pending appeal.