The Melbourne GP in a legal battle with a US-based naturopath has scored a small win after the court hearing the case ordered the alternative remedies entrepreneur to pay some of his costs.

Farrah Agustin-Bunch is seeking $1m in damages from Dr Adam Smith, claiming he defamed her in a series of videos attempting to debunk her claims that her remedies can cure cancer, diabetes and other serious medical conditions.

In her statement of claim, she alleges Dr Smith’s videos meant she lost $1 million in distributor deals and led to emotional stress that caused her to miscarry in May this year.

But in the latest development, the Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered Ms Agustin-Bunch to pay Dr Smith’s legal costs — estimated to be up to $35,000 — for responding to her amended claim, which runs to over 300 pages.