<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has run out of options to appeal a ruinous defamation loss, including a civil court judge's finding that he likely raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, the High Court rejected Lehrmann's application for special leave to appeal.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-9-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines-australian-fuel-price-and-supply/ef47dfe4-094d-485b-8a6f-e770bccf2368"><strong><span>'Shootin' starts bigger and better': Trump's new threat if Strait remains closed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Typically, the court refuses to hold a substantive hearing if it thinks an appeal does not grapple with a major question of Australian law.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In April 2024, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee first dismissed the 30-year-old's case against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, describing it as an "omnishambles".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The judge's findings, including that Lehrmann raped Higgins on the balance of probabilities, were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bruce-lehrmann-loses-final-bid-to-appeal-higgins-rape-finding/56846aff-4b65-4212-9301-57d4ff6be690" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Higgins had been out drinking with colleagues, including Lehrmann, in 2019 before the pair wound up at Parliament House in the office of their then-boss Senator Linda Reynolds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was there that the alleged rape happened.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-when-will-petrol-prices-go-down-explained/69972b25-cf9e-4720-92f4-383bb0ad12ea"><strong><span>When Australian motorists can expect cheaper fuel prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 30-year-old Lehrmann has consistently repeatedly denied any sexual conduct occurred, saying he returned during the early hours to write notes about French submarine contracts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This claim was roundly rejected by Justice Lee, saying the young man had been seen kissing Higgins, whom he found attractive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Now does a man in a situation like that have French submarine contracts on his mind or does he have something else on his mind?" the judge quipped.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A criminal case against Lehrmann in the ACT was derailed due to juror misconduct.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A further trial was ruled out and no findings have been made against him in a court of criminal law.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The failed High Court bid could lead to Lehrmann being forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2 million legal bill to Ten.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div>