Geoffrey Rush Wins Defamation Suit

Geoffrey Rush Wins Defamation Suit

Geoffrey Rush has won his defamation lawsuit against The Daily Telegraph and its journalist Jonathon Moran over articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct.

He has been awarded initial damages of $850,000, just for the damage to his reputation, a figure certain to rise substantially.

The 2017 stories related to a complaint by fellow cast member Eryn Jean Norvillabout his behaviour during the Sydney Theatre Company’s 2015 production of King Lear.

In handing down his judgement in the Federal Court, Justice Michael Wigney said "This was, in all circumstances a recklessly irresponsible piece of sensationalist journalism of the very worst kind,” and that “The Daily Telegraph and journalist Jonathan Moran failed to adequately research the stories before they published.”

Image: Geoffrey Rush in the Sydney Theatre Company's King Lear. © Heidrun Löhr

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