Former Victorian police union boss Paul Mullett could be forced to pay the legal costs of the former police chief he unsuccessfully tried to sue for $2 million.  Christine Nixon wants Mr Mullett to pay the legal costs she incurred defending herself against his lawsuit, which was dismissed by the Victorian Supreme Court in August.  Lawyers for Ms Nixon on Friday applied for a special costs order against Mr Mullett.  "The impact of these allegations against her, in excess of three years, warrants the special costs order," said Rowena Orr QC.  During a long civil trial in May, Mr Mullett accused Ms Nixon of unlawfully suspending him in late 2007 and instigating baseless criminal charges against him that destroyed his career.  Mr Mullett was suspended in 2007, and in 2008 he was charged with perjury, perverting the course of justice and wilfully making a false statement.  One charge was dropped at a committal hearing in May 2009, before the last two charges were withdrawn a month later.  By then Mr Mullett had left the police force, as well as the union.  Justice Terry Forrest found there was no evidence to support Mr Mullett's claims and dismissed his lawsuit.  Ms Nixon says she incurred significant legal costs defending herself against Mr Mullett's lawsuit, which also affected her personally.  "This is a case of targeted malice," said Ms Orr.  "The damage to the reputation, particularly of Ms Nixon, by having these allegations in the media for a long time could form a basis for your honour to infer there was an ulterior motive here."  She said Mr Mullett's claims against her client were "allegations of maleficence that were made on suspicion".  In August, Justice Forrest found Ms Nixon had a sound motive for wanting Mr Mullett removed from his position at the Police Association as the union boss was a fierce adversary.  But he said the existence of such a motive did not prove that it led to Mr Mullet's subsequent suspension and prosecution, and dismissed the former policeman's case.  Justice Forrest on Friday reserved his decision about Ms Nixon's application for costs.
Victoria's former police chief Christine Nixon has applied for a special order to have the ex-union boss who unsuccessfully sued her to pay her legal costs.