Rebel Wilson seeks legal fees after record Australia payout

March 10, 2018 | 12:04

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Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson spent more than AUD$1.3 million (US$1.1 million) to win Australia's largest defamation payout, it was revealed Thursday (Mar 8), and she is now chasing publisher Bauer to pay those costs as well.

rebel wilson seeks legal fees after record australia payout

Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson spent more than Aus$1.3 million (US$1.1 million) to win Australia's largest defamation payout and she is now chasing publisher Bauer to pay those costs as well AFP/Robyn Beck

The "Pitch Perfect" star was awarded AUD$4.5 million in damages against the group last September over articles claiming she lied about her age and background to further her career.

The allegations were made in Woman's Day, Australian Women's Weekly and OK Magazine in 2015, which Wilson said damaged her reputation. She won the case and vowed to give the payout to charity.

Bauer are appealing and have been backed by some of the country's leading media organisations who argue the size of the settlement set a dangerous precedent.

A day after she tweeted "Girls just wanna have funds," Wilson's lawyers appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court in a battle over the fees.

It heard that experts engaged by lawyers for both Wilson and Bauer had estimated the actress would be entitled to recover between AUD$1.1 million and AUD$1.3 million, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Wilson's barrister Renee Enbom said it effectively meant they were quibbling over AUD$200,000.

"It's $200,000, that's what we're fighting about," she said, according to the broadcaster, in urging the judge to make an order on costs rather than it going to a dedicated costs court, which would potentially delay the payment.

Justice John Dixon reserved his decision.

The court earlier heard that Wilson had offered to settle the case for AUD$200,000 before it went to trial, with most of her legal costs coming from solicitor's fees preparing her case.

AFP

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