Brittany Higgins and her spouse, David Sharaz, have been photographed basking in the spotlight at a prestigious American film festival, even as concerns mount that her participation in a featured documentary might ignite fresh legal complications. The couple made a notable appearance at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Saturday, local time, standing alongside the production team of Silenced. This Australian film chronicles lawyer Jennifer Robinson's campaign 'against the weaponisation of defamation laws to silence survivors'.
Red Carpet Glamour Amid Financial Strain
On the red carpet, Higgins showcased a dress from the London-based designer Self Portrait, valued at approximately $770. Sharaz complemented his navy suit with a $450 silk knit tie from Ralph Lauren. If the pair were experiencing anxiety over their considerable legal and financial troubles, they managed to conceal it effectively from the cameras at the high-profile American event.
Background of Legal Defeats and Bankruptcy
Higgins' former employer, Liberal senator Linda Reynolds, secured a defamation victory against her in August. This led to bankruptcy proceedings after Higgins proved unable to satisfy the court-ordered financial penalties. Specifically, Higgins had been directed to pay Reynolds $315,000 in damages, an additional $26,000 in interest, and cover 80 percent of Reynolds' legal fees. Consequently, Higgins was declared bankrupt in December of last year.
This bankruptcy status imposes stringent regulations on the couple. These include caps on earnings, restrictions on owning vehicles valued above $9,600, and limitations concerning international travel. While bankrupt individuals are permitted to travel abroad, they must surrender their passports to the appointed trustee responsible for recouping funds and must seek explicit permission for any overseas trips. The Daily Mail reports that Higgins and Sharaz were granted approval from their trustees to travel to Utah for the festival.
Legal Warnings Over Documentary Involvement
It has now emerged that Higgins' legal representatives issued warnings to the producers of Silenced prior to the festival screening. They cautioned that Higgins could pursue legal action if the film alleged she had been 'silenced' by the events depicted. This legal threat adds another layer of complexity to her festival appearance.
Higgins had previously made false claims alleging that Senator Reynolds failed to provide adequate support following her sexual assault and attempted a 'cover-up' to protect the Liberal Party before a federal election. A civil court ruling in 2024 determined, on the balance of probabilities, that Higgins was raped in Reynolds' parliamentary office by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann in February 2019. Lehrmann has consistently denied these allegations.
Senator Reynolds' Reaction
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Senator Reynolds expressed astonishment at Higgins' decision to promote a film connected to her court matters. 'It beggars belief that in circumstances where she has been bankrupted for failing to pay the Court ordered damages for defaming me that she can indulge herself,' Reynolds stated. She added, 'It is a shame the important message of this film has been undermined. Two courts have now found that Ms Higgins made false allegations about how she was treated in her workplace after she was assaulted.'
Details of the Documentary Silenced
Silenced, directed by Australian filmmaker Selina Miles, examines the 'personal cost and system bias shaping legal battles' for women who speak out. The film's synopsis on the Sundance website describes it as following international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson's fight 'against the weaponisation of defamation laws to silence survivors' in the wake of the #MeToo movement, revealing 'a global pattern: When women speak out, powerful systems move to discredit and punish them.'
The documentary, which premiered on Saturday, is based on Robinson's book, #HowManyMoreWomen. The book details Higgins' case alongside those of other high-profile figures, including Amber Heard, and includes Robinson's own sexual assault claims. Additional screenings are scheduled for Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the festival.
Financial Fallout and Past Settlement
Beyond the damages owed to Reynolds, Higgins also faces the prospect of repaying her own substantial legal costs, estimated at around $600,000. This financial burden comes almost three years after she received a $2.45 million settlement from the Commonwealth following a civil case regarding the handling of her rape complaint.
According to her draft statement of claim from that earlier case, Higgins was 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and had been given a very poor prognosis for future employment'. The settlement breakdown allocated more than half the sum for loss of earnings, with the remainder covering medical expenses, legal costs, and $400,000 designated for 'hurt, distress and humiliation'.
The couple utilised the proceeds from this settlement to purchase a house in France, with Higgins reportedly retaining about $1.9 million. Following the settlement, they embarked on a series of holidays, rented a property on the Gold Coast for approximately a year, frequently wore designer clothing, bought the French property, and spent over $100,000 on their wedding in Australia.
Subsequently, Higgins sold the French house to help cover legal costs related to the defamation case, gave birth to her first child, and relocated to Melbourne. By the time bankruptcy proceedings commenced, the court was informed that Higgins' estate was valued at roughly $10,000.
