Bad man refuses to get out.

State Opposition Leader John Pesutto has vowed to stay on in his role despite a damning Federal Court judgment finding he defamed ousted MP Moira Deeming and revelations the high-stakes case could have been settled for $99,000.

Pesutto was ordered on Thursday to pay $300,000 in damages and savaged over his time in the witness box in a 250-page judgment that found he injured Deeming’s reputation by repeatedly and falsely implying that she knowingly associates with neo-Nazis.

I think people of this type must actually persuade themselves that not believing in Magic Gender is pretty much the same thing as associating with Nazis. That’s how morally warped and confused they are.

Angry Liberal MPs were on Thursday night discussing whether to move against their leader of the past two years. Their mood was further darkened by the news that had Pesutto taken up a settlement offer from Deeming in February, the case could have avoided court.

A source familiar with negotiations leading up to the trial revealed Deeming offered to walk away for a payment of $99,000 plus costs with no other conditions. Her demands eventually ramped up towards $2 million with assurances of her return to the Liberal party room, which Pesutto refused.

On top of the $300,000 damages payout, Pesutto now faces a hefty legal bill with costs, yet to be determined, set to reach upwards of $1.5 million for Deeming alone, according to three sources familiar with the case. The state branch of the Liberal Party had refused to indemnify Pesutto’s legal costs.

Maybe the fashion for men bullying women over Magic Gender is starting to fade away?

Justice David O’Callaghan found Pesutto’s evidence contained untruths, that he was “infuriatingly unresponsive” during cross-examination, and that he had given “dubious” explanations and calculated answers in an attempt to defend Deeming’s claim against him.

Other than that…