Every cloud has a silver lining…
The Federal Court has ordered Christian Porter and his former defamation barrister pay more than $430,000 in legal costs.
Late on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Porter and his barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC were ordered to pay Jo Dyer $430,200 in legal costs, relating to a May 2021 finding that Ms Chrysanthou could not continue working for the former Attorney-General on his defamation case because of a “danger of misuse of confidential information”.
The costs were awarded to the friend of the woman who accused Mr Porter of rape, Jo Dyer, who submitted that her previous lawyer-client relationship with Ms Chrysanthou would advantage Mr Porter’s defamation case against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and its journalist Louise Milligan. Mr Porter has continued to strenuously deny the allegations against him.
In handing down the judgement, Justice Thomas Thawley said: “Ms Chrysanthou gave evidence that she did not remember the confidential information… [but] there is nevertheless the risk of subconscious use of confidential information. A fair-minded member of the public would say she should not act for Mr Porter.”
Read more at https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/33436-christian-porter-ordered-to-pay-430k-in-legal-fees
