Brittany Higgins’s husband David Sharaz has been declared bankrupt in the Federal Court in Perth, two months after former Senator Linda Reynolds served him bankruptcy papers.
It comes after Ms Higgins was declared bankrupt in a hearing brought on by Ms Reynolds in Perth last Friday, with Federal Court Justice Michael Feutrill ruling her estate must be sequestrated under the bankruptcy act.
In August, Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz were found to have defamed the former WA MP in a series of social media posts.
Ms Higgins was ordered to pay Ms Reynolds $315,000 plus $26,000 in interest.
Mr Sharaz and Brittany Higgins were found to have defamed Ms Reynolds in a series of social media posts. (Instagram: David Sharaz)
Mr Sharaz, who opted not to defend the legal action, was ordered to pay $85,000, with Justice Tottle ruling both he and Ms Higgins were jointly liable for Ms Reynolds’ legal bill, which had exceeded one million dollars.
On Tuesday, the Federal Court heard Mr Sharaz was personally served the bankruptcy notice at a Melbourne cafe on October 10.
Linda Reynolds attacks government
“I am satisfied the debtor committed [the] act of bankruptcy,” Registrar Camille Goucke said.
The Registrar ordered Mr Sharaz’s estate to be sequestrated under the bankruptcy act and costs of $5,690 to be paid.
The act of bankruptcy was deemed to be October 31.
The hearing last Friday also ordered Ms Higgins’s estate to pay Ms Reynolds costs of $6,330.
Lengthy saga
The defamation action was launched by Ms Reynolds following social media posts made by Ms Higgins beginning in 2022.
Ms Reynolds (centre, blue coat) initiated the bankruptcy proceedings after winning the high-profile defamation case in August. (ABC News: Glyn Jones)
Ms Reynolds argued the posts trashed her reputation and caused her immense distress, following a period of ill health.
Ms Higgins wrote the posts four years after she was raped in the then-senator’s office by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
Some of the social media posts made by Ms Higgins which Ms Reynolds took action over. (Supplied: WA Supreme Court)
The finding of rape was made last year by Justice Michael Lee during a separate defamation action Mr Lehrmann had launched in the Federal Court against Channel 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
That finding was made on the balance of probabilities, the standard of proof in a civil court matter.
Separate criminal proceedings against Mr Lehrmann, which require a charge to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, were discontinued after juror misconduct and concerns for Ms Higgins’s welfare.
Mr Lehrmann has always denied raping Ms Higgins.
LoadingLoading