REVEALED: The six-figure sum Network Ten’s Bruce Lehrmann demanded to settle a defamation lawsuit

Bruce Lehrmann had offered to settle the defamation case against Channel Ten for $235,000, but the network declined.

Lehrmann’s lawyers sent the network a letter of concern last December saying he planned to file a defamation suit over the 2021 episode of The Project in which Brittany Higgins made her rape allegations against him.

He has consistently denied the allegations.

The notice of concern, which was published on the Federal Court website last week, said the former Liberal staffer was willing to resolve the dispute if the network would pay him $235,000 in damages and cover his legal costs cover.

He also requested an apology on Network Ten’s letterhead, signed by its executive vice president and chief content officer.

The network responded in January and rejected the offer, claiming that Mr. Lehrmann was not identifiable as Ms. Higgins’ alleged rapist.

Network Ten’s response, also published on the court’s website, said the way the questions to Ms Higgins were worded indicated her statements were ‘claims’ or ‘allegations’ rather than ‘proven facts’.

‘No ordinary, reasonable viewer would have understood it [Project interview] as conveying accusations thereof [Mr Lehrmann] had actually raped Ms. Higgins,” it said.

In his affidavit, tendered to the court in July this year, Mr Lehrmann claimed the broadcast contained ‘clear factual allegations, including an allegation of [Lisa Wilkinson] that Ms Higgins’ allegations were a ‘serious offence’.