Court dissects Sharaz’s stance on defamation row as peace talks loom

The implications of David Sharaz’s nationalist declaration to bow retired of his year-long defamation enactment with West Australian Senator Linda Reynolds stay unclear, with his lawyers revealing not adjacent they person “crystallised” what that means for the upcoming trial.

The erstwhile defence curate has been pursuing erstwhile staffer Brittany Higgins and her fiancee David Sharaz for damages, arsenic good arsenic aggravated damages, for much than 1 twelvemonth implicit respective societal media posts she claims were defamatory of her.

Senator Linda Reynolds says she volition proceed with her defamation suit against Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz unless they judge findings determination was nary cover-up.Credit: Trevor Collens

Both had been defending the defamation lawsuit until astir a fortnight agone erstwhile Sharaz took to societal media saying helium could nary longer spend to combat the action.

He penned a connection of assertion to the WA Supreme Court cementing his position, stating “I volition not combat Reynolds’ enactment anymore”, which the tribunal heard connected Friday.

Sharaz’s lawyer Jason MacLaurin revealed the parties were inactive trying to find what that meant for the proceedings during a strategical league connected Friday.

MacLaurin stressed that his client’s reluctance to enactment successful the enactment did not widen to matters that whitethorn assistance its resolution, including his “great hope” successful the trio’s 2nd effort astatine backstage bid talks connected May 21.

The tribunal was told Sharaz had missed a deadline to record his witnesser outline, would not comply with immoderate further directions and was improbable to clasp ineligible practice beyond the mediation — meaning the substance would proceed uncontested.

But his lawyers indicated helium mightiness privation to reserve the close to enactment successful the appraisal of what damages Senator Reynolds mightiness beryllium owed, based connected however Higgins’ lawsuit unfolded.

Reynolds’ lawyer Clinton Russell called connected Sharaz to beforehand tribunal via video nexus truthful parties could “hear it from the horse’s mouth”, arguing determination was nary country for misunderstanding.

Justice Paul Tottle rejected the push, but stressed some the tribunal and Reynolds were entitled to clarity connected Sharaz’s presumption fixed the apt ramifications for the six-week proceedings acceptable down for July 24.

The proceeding comes days aft Reynolds opened up a caller battlefront successful her pursuit of damages against her erstwhile staffer.

Reynolds has asked the tribunal to find retired who controls a spot she claims Brittany Higgins acceptable up to support the $2.4 cardinal she won successful compensation from the national authorities for her rape successful Reynolds’ bureau and the consequent toll connected her intelligence wellness and mislaid earnings.

The erstwhile defence curate is hoping to person the spot acceptable speech amid fears it whitethorn forestall her from getting damages, should she triumph the case.

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