ENTERTAINMENT

Australian newspaper appeals Geoffrey Rush defamation case

The Associated Press Published Monday, May 6, 2019 6:57AM EDT

Geoffrey Rush arrives at Supreme Court in Sydney

Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, centre, arrives at the Supreme Court in Sydney, on April 11, 2019. (Dylan Coker / AAP Image via AP)

Text:

SYDNEY, Australia -- A Sydney newspaper and journalist are appealing an Australian Federal Court decision that they defamed Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush with accusations of inappropriate behaviour toward an actress.

The Federal Court on Monday said that The Daily Telegraph and journalist Jonathan Moran had lodged an appeal arguing that Justice Michael Wigney's conduct "gave rise to an apprehension of bias."

Wigney ruled last month that publisher Nationwide News and Moran were reckless regarding the truth of their story when they reported the 67-year-old actor had been accused of inappropriate behaviour in 2017.

Nationwide News and Moran want the full Federal Court to set aside Wigney's decision or order a retrial before a different judge. No date has been set for the appeal hearing.