The court heard Mr Rush had previously offered to settle the case for $50,000,plus costs,and an apology.
The $1.98 million figure is in addition to $850,000 in compensatory and aggravated damages,plus $42,302 in interest,that Federal Court Justice Michael Wigneypreviously awarded Mr Rush to vindicate his reputation and compensate him for the"personal distress and hurt"caused by the reports.
Damages for economic loss are in a separate category and require proof of particular loss.
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While the latest figure was reached by agreement,Nationwide News haslaunched an appeal against Justice Wigney's decision rejecting their defence of truth and delivering a comprehensive victory to Mr Rush.
It wants an appeal bench to enter judgment in its favour – which would mean the total damages figure would be overturned – or order that there be a retrial before a new judge.
After the Victorian Court of Appeal slashed actor Rebel Wilson's damages payout last year from $4.5 million to $600,000 over defamatory articles inWoman's Day magazine and related publications,prominent Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney's $2.6 million payoutwas the largest-ever defamation award in Australia to a single person.