Geoffrey Rush wins sexual harassment defamation suit

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Actor Geoffrey Rush, who sued The Daily Telegraph in a sexual harassment defamation suit, emerged victorious, winning a minimum of USD 610,000 in damages from the Australian tabloid.

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Daily Telegraph alleged the actor had engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards co-star Eryn Jean Norvill during a production of King Lear in 2015 and 2016.

“(There are) no winners in this case. It was extremely distressing for everyone involved,” Rush told reporters, adding he would make no further comment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Australian Federal Court Justice Michael Wigney said on Thursday that the Telegraph had defamed the Australian actor and not proved its truth defence.

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Justice Wigney chastised News Corps Sydney-based newspaper and journalist over reports that accused Rush, 67, of inappropriate behaviour towards Norvill.

“This was, in all the circumstances, a recklessly irresponsible piece of sensationalist journalism of the very worst kind. It was difficult to avoid the conclusion that it was calculated to damage,” the judge said.

He said The Daily Telegraph and reporter Jonathan Moran failed to adequately research the stories before they published.

Justice Wigney said that Rushs accuser, Norvill was not a “credible or reliable witness and was “prone to exaggeration and embellishment”.

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Initially, he introduced his findings saying the case, which had evolved against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, wasRead More – Source

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The Indian Express

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