Fiona Brown sues Commonwealth for workplace rights violations

Fiona Brown, the former chief-of-staff to Brittany Higgins, is suing the Commonwealth. Brown was a key witness in the recent defamation trial involving Bruce Lehrmann. She claims the Commonwealth failed to protect her in the workplace. This lawsuit is part of the ongoing legal issues that arose after Higgins alleged she was raped by Lehrmann in 2019. The case has led to numerous investigations and legal claims. Justice Michael Lee previously stated that Brown was a reliable witness who faced unfair criticism during the trial. Brown's legal action was filed in the Federal Court on March 10. She argues that her workplace rights were violated. Her lawyer, Dominique Hogan-Doran SC, has not commented publicly on the case. Brown's team may seek a suppression order regarding the details of the lawsuit. During the defamation trial, Brown expressed her shock upon hearing that Higgins had been found naked in Parliament House. However, she clarified that Higgins did not initially provide details of the alleged rape. Brown later testified that Higgins remembered an incident involving Lehrmann during a meeting weeks after the alleged event. Lee found that Lehrmann raped Higgins based on the evidence presented but stated there was no evidence of a political cover-up. He defended Brown’s actions in response to the incident and condemned how she was treated afterward. The first hearing for Brown’s lawsuit is scheduled for April 2 in front of Justice Nye Perram. Lehrmann continues to assert his innocence in this matter.