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Nicola Gobbo, a former gangland attorney who became an informant, has had her claim dismissed against the state of Victoria. She alleged that police put her safety at risk when it was revealed she had betrayed her clients.
The ex-lawyer sought at least $800,000 in damages, asserting that police persuaded her to act as an informant starting in late 2005. Known as ‘Lawyer X’, she argued that law enforcement took advantage of her fragile state and strong connections to key gangland figures like Tony Mokbel, promising her protection and confidentiality in return for information about these criminal clients.
But her cover was blown in March 2019 when she was exposed as ‘Informer 3838’ and ‘Lawyer X’.
Justice Melinda Richards today dismissed Gobbo’s lawsuit as she handed down her judgment in Victoria’s Supreme Court.
She said once Gobbo decided to become an informer “exposure was an inherent risk”.
“So the state can’t be held liable. Therefore it is unnecessary to assess damages,” she said.
Gobbo was registered three times as a police informer in the 1990s to mid-2000s, when she gave handlers information about underworld figures.
During the judge-alone trial, her lawyers said their client suffered psychological injury since her double identity was exposed.
She was forced into the witness protection program with her two children and her depression worsened as they moved overseas for their safety.
The state has fought each of Gobbo’s claims, arguing she voluntarily became an informer and she could have left the role at any time.
During the trial, Gobbo gave evidence by video live stream from a secret location with her image hidden inside the court to protect her new identity.
Gobbo was admitted to the bar at the age of 25, making her the youngest female barrister in the state, and swiftly began representing notable gangland identities, such as the Mokbel family and the associates of Carl Williams.
A royal commission found her position as both an informer and a barrister could have affected more than 1000 convictions.
Former clients Tony Mokbel, Faruk Orman and Zlate Cvetanovski have successfully had convictions overturned since her role was uncovered in March 2019.
Gobbo has been ordered to pay the costs for the state.
In 2010, Gobbo sued Victoria Police, claiming they failed to protect her as a witness and settled out of court for almost $3 million.
