BREAKING: David Sharaz, husband of Brittany Higgins, has been declared bankrupt in the Federal Court in Perth today, just days after his wife faced a similar ruling. The verdict underscores a tumultuous legal battle following a high-profile defamation case involving his wife and former Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds.
The court’s decision comes amid ongoing financial turmoil for both Sharaz and Higgins. Sharaz, who opted not to contest the legal action, was ordered to pay $85,000 to Reynolds. Registrar Camille Goucke confirmed that Sharaz’s estate would be sequestrated under the bankruptcy act, with additional costs of $5,690 to be paid.
Brittany Higgins herself was declared bankrupt last week, a consequence of her own court battles stemming from a defamation case brought by Reynolds. This legal conflict arose after Reynolds won a defamation suit earlier this year, resulting in a judgment of $315,000 in damages, plus $26,109 in interest, after the WA Supreme Court ruled that Higgins’s social media posts had defamed the former senator.
The ongoing saga has significant implications. Reynolds is now pursuing Higgins for damages and legal fees estimated to exceed $1 million. In a statement, Reynolds emphasized that she views the bankruptcy of Sharaz and Higgins not as a victory, but rather as the result of their inability to pay the court-ordered damages.
“I was put to the cost of an expensive Supreme Court trial to prove Ms. Higgins egregiously lied about my conduct,” Reynolds stated. She reiterated her position, indicating that the legal actions were necessary to protect her reputation.
Adding further complexity, Brittany Higgins alleges that former colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Reynolds’ ministerial suite at Parliament House in 2019. Lehrmann, who maintains his innocence, has not been found criminally liable after a trial was aborted due to juror misconduct. However, a Federal Court judge recently determined that he had raped Higgins on the balance of probabilities.
The emotional toll of these developments is palpable. Following the court’s ruling against Lehrmann, Higgins expressed a sense of relief, stating, “Finally, it feels like I can breathe again.” She underscored that the legal proceedings were not merely about defamation but were deeply intertwined with her traumatic experiences.
As the legal battles continue, public attention remains fixated on both Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz. The ramifications of their bankruptcies and ongoing lawsuits are likely to unfold in the coming weeks. With Reynolds pursuing further legal action, all eyes will be on how this complex situation evolves.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
