<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>  
<docID>327370</docID>
<postdate>2024-08-22 16:08:01</postdate>
<headline>Higgins hit with fresh lawsuit over $2.4 million trust</headline>
<body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-324932" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20230706001817829584-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p>
<caption>Linda Reynolds has begun a new lawsuit against Brittany Higgins over a trust holding payout funds. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption>
<p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Aaron Bunch</b> in Perth</span></p>
<p><strong>Senator Linda Reynolds has launched another lawsuit against Brittany Higgins and the company overseeing the trust fund protecting the former political staffer's multimillion-dollar payout.</strong></p>
<p>Ms Higgins received a $2.4 million commonwealth compensation payment in December 2021 for hurt and distress, lost earnings, medical expenses and legal fees following her alleged rape in Parliament House.</p>
<p>According to a writ lodged in the West Australian Supreme Court by Reynolds' legal team on Thursday, Power Blazers Pty Ltd acts as trustee for the Brittany Higgins Protective Trust.</p>
<p>The company was appointed to the role after Ms Higgins retired as trustee in February 2022.</p>
<p>Senator Reynolds claims the trust was created "with the intention of defeating or delaying" Ms Higgins' creditors, of which she is one.</p>
<p>The senator wants the court to void the trust and for the money, which is believed to be a significant portion of the $2.4 million payout, to be transferred back into Ms Higgins' control.</p>
<p>The fresh lawsuit comes as the senator's defamation trial against Ms Higgins over a series of social media posts comes to a close.</p>
<p>Senator Reynolds believes the posts damaged her reputation and is seeking aggravated damages.</p>
</body>