Lehrmann Loses Final Bid to Appeal Higgins Rape Finding

The failed High Court bid could lead to Lehrmann being forced into bankruptcy due to court orders that he pay a $2 million legal bill to Network Ten.Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney, on Feb. 13, 2024. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi4/9/2026|Updated: 4/9/2026Disgraced former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has run out of options to appeal a ruinous defamation loss, including a judge’s finding that he likely raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.The 30-year-old took his case against Network Ten to the High Court, where he challenged findings by dual courts that the broadcaster did not defame him by airing Higgins’ allegation during an interview on The Project in February 2021.