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Federal Court docket Justice Michael Lee granted an extension of time sought by the previous Liberal staffer to carry the lawsuit outdoors the traditional 12-month interval at present.
Lee ordered the limitation interval be prolonged till the proceedings commenced.
The lawsuits, filed in February, got here after the standard window required for many defamation instances, which means a choose should grant permission for them to proceed.
In December, the prosecutor dropped the fees as a consequence of impacts a second trial would have on Higgins’ psychological well being.
No findings have been made in opposition to Lehrmann, who denies the allegations.
He argued he couldn’t carry civil proceedings earlier as a result of prison case, authorized recommendation he had acquired in opposition to it, and his personal psychological well being.
Lee was happy he was following authorized recommendation and his chief focus was on defending a possible prison case.
Commencing civil proceedings risked him being required to provide proof, versus being entitled to silence because the accused in a prison trial.
“This could have undermined Lehrmann’s defence technique,” Lee stated.
Ten, Information and journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden tried to close down the instances by urging the court docket to reject the twin functions for an extension of time.
Lehrmann has additionally filed a separate defamation lawsuit in opposition to the ABC for airing a joint tackle by Higgins and former Australian of the 12 months Grace Tame on the Nationwide Press Membership in February 2022, topic to a case administration listening to on Friday afternoon.
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