- Title: $135K for a Tweet: Linda Reynolds Wins Expanded Damages in Defamation Case
- Category: Defamation Wins Feed
- Tags: defamation, social media, Australia, political fallout, emotional harm
- Date: August 27, 2025
- Status: Published
In a detailed ruling, the Supreme Court of Western Australia awarded former senator Linda Reynolds $315,000 in damages, including $135,000 for a single tweet posted by Brittany Higgins in January 2022. The court found the tweet was “actuated by malice” and aggravated Reynolds’ emotional distress. Justice Paul Tottle described Higgins’ Instagram story as “gratuitous,” noting that she and her partner David Sharaz used the “Empowering Women” narrative to discredit Reynolds. The ruling also dismissed conspiracy claims and upheld some of Higgins’ defenses as fair comment. For reputation defenders, this case is a wake-up call: even one tweet, if malicious and misleading, can carry six-figure consequences.
Strategic Takeaway
The era of casual defamation is over. Courts are now quantifying emotional harm and intent—turning single tweets into high-stakes liabilities.
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