$10 million and a reputational disaster: the real cost of the Tele’s Rush fiasco

While the judge ruled News Corp pay Rush a record $2.9 million, the actual cost to the paper will be much, much higher.

Jul 07, 2020

The Daily Telegraph is set to fork out a record $2.87 million in damages for defaming Geoffrey Rush after losing an appeal in the Federal Court last week — but the real price is likely to be much, much higher.

In total, the lawsuit could cost News more than $10 million, defamation experts tell Crikey.

Damages are only part of the bill. Lawyers estimate the company’s own legal costs for the entire trial will exceed $3 million, given it employed two barristers and had at least three or four lawyers present at any given time.

About the Authors

Amber Schultz

Reporter @AmberMaySchultz

Amber previously worked for Nine News and The Age and created student comedy talk show The Struggle. She was a Young Walkley finalist, Jacoby-Walkley scholar, and won an Ossie Our Watch award. Amber holds a Masters in International Relations and Journalism and is fluent in Spanish.

Georgia Wilkins

Reporter @georgiamareew

Georgia Wilkins is a senior reporter at Crikey. Previously Georgia was a journalist at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. She has also worked as a reporter overseas.

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