Key Points
- Linda Reynolds is suing Brittany Higgins over allegedly defamatory social media posts made on Twitter and Instagram.
- Reynolds' lawyers contacted Higgins in July, advising her to remove the posts or potentially face legal action.
- After being contacted by the senator's lawyers, Higgins tweeted that she was considering her legal options.
Liberal senator Linda Reynolds has made good on over social media posts by the former staffer.
In a writ lodged in the West Australian Supreme Court on Monday, Higgins is accused of posting defamatory material about the senator on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
The posts were allegedly published on 4 and 20 July, according to the document seen by AAP.
Reynolds is also claiming a breach of contract over the contents of the Instagram post.
The senator and Higgins entered into a deed of settlement and release in March 2021, which contained a "non-disparagement" clause.
Reynolds will seek aggravated damages plus interest and costs, and an injunction restraining Higgins from publishing further allegedly defamatory material.
Lawyers for the senator contacted Higgins in early July, advising her to remove the allegedly defamatory posts or potentially face legal action.
Higgins tweeted in response that she was considering her legal options.
Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by Bruce Lehrmann inside Reynolds' ministerial office, for whom they both worked as staffers.
Lehrmann consistently denied the allegation and no findings have been made against him. His trial in the ACT Supreme Court .
Prosecutors decided not to pursue further action, citing concerns of the impact it may have on Higgins' mental health.
Reynolds has previously said she had been the target of "unwarranted criticism and abuse" ever since Higgins went public with the allegation against Lehrmann.
She is also pursuing action against Higgins' partner David Sharaz over five allegedly defamatory social media posts.
