Controversial former Labor leader Mark Latham is being sued for defamation over a column in which he accused mothers who take anti-depressants of choosing the "easy way out" and avoiding adult responsibilities.
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Mr Latham and The Australian Financial Review, which publishes Mr Latham's columns, have been taken to court by former Sydney Morning Herald opinion editor Lisa Pryor, who now writes occasional columns for the paper.
In a column for the Good Weekend magazine last November, Ms Pryor wrote that when asked how she balances work and full-time study she responds: "caffeine and anti-depressants".
A little bit of "neurochemical assistance helps me actually enjoy the glorious disaster of raising two small children while studying medicine full time", Ms Pryor wrote.
In his column for the AFR, "Why left-wing feminists don't like kids", Mr Latham said he was "nearly knocked off his chair" when he read Ms Pryor's piece.
Mr Latham's column was widely criticised, including by Fairfax Media columnist Annabel Crabb.
Ms Pryor tweeted on Monday that, as she had not been able to resolved matters directly, she had commenced legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against Mr Latham and the AFR.
Comment has been sought from the AFR and Mr Latham.