Bruce Lehrmann is being sued by the owner of a luxurious home in Sydney’s northern beaches where he stayed for a year on Channel Seven’s money.
Civil proceedings have been launched against Mr Lehrmann by Lady Gaenor Meakes, who owns the sprawling property in Balgowlah.
The former Liberal staffer had stayed in the home for a year while Seven paid the rent in exchange for an exclusive interview on Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.
A date of conciliation has been set down for May 23, however, it is unclear what Lady Meakes’ is suing for.
Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Lehrmann was shocked on Tuesday to learn his former landlord had launched the civil suit against him.
‘Oh well, add it to the pile,’ he said.
Mr Lehrmann moved out of the Balgowlah home just over a month ago, with the lease being cut short by three weeks.
Bruce Lehrmann is being sued by the owner of a luxurious home in Sydney ‘s northern beaches where he stayed for a year on Channel Seven ‘s money
The inside of the Balgowlah unit Mr Lehrmann has been staying in, which features views over Sydney’s north
The weekly rent was $2,000, with the home being snapped up by Lady Meakes and her husband Mark Richards for $2.4million in 2019. Mr Richards is a world renowned sailor and yachtsman.
It comes after Mr Lehrmann lost his defamation case against Network 10 when Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probabilities that he had raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
Ms Higgins had alleged details of the rape during an interview with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project in 2021.
Network Ten’s case hinged on a truth defence, which meant it sought to prove Ms Higgins’ rape claims were true and that Lehrmann was therefore not defamed in the broadcast – even though he was not named in the program.
Mr Lehrmann is considering appealing the decision and was granted an additional two weeks to do so.
He must launch the appeal before May 31.
Brittany Higgins is pictured with her fiancé David Sharaz. Justice Lee found she had been raped by Bruce Lehrmann on a balance of probabilities
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