Nicola Gobbo, previously a gangland lawyer and now an informer, has lost her legal battle against the state of Victoria. She sought over $800,000 in damages, alleging that police compromised her safety when her dual role as a lawyer and an informer was revealed, causing her to be exposed to risks from clients she had betrayed.
Gobbo, known as ‘Lawyer X’, contended that police took advantage of her vulnerabilities linked to her connections with notorious gang figures, including Tony Mokbel. In exchange for providing information on her criminal clients, police offered her assurances of protection and support.
Her informant status, dubbed ‘Informer 3838’, was publicly disclosed in March 2019, which significantly jeopardised her safety and well-being. Justice Melinda Richards dismissed Gobbo’s lawsuit in Victoria’s Supreme Court, asserting that once she chose to act as an informer, the risk of exposure was inherent to that role. As a result, the state could not be held accountable for her challenges, negating the need for a damages assessment.
Gobbo had been registered as a police informer multiple times from the 1990s into the mid-2000s, during which she relayed information about underworld figures to police handlers. During the proceedings, her legal team highlighted the psychological effects of her exposure, indicating that the stress of her dual identity had forced her and her two children into witness protection. Gobbo’s mental health further deteriorated as they relocated overseas for safety.
The state contested Gobbo’s claims vigorously, maintaining that she voluntarily undertook the role of informer and had the option to withdraw at any point. Throughout the trial, Gobbo appeared via video link from a secure location with her identity concealed, aiming to safeguard her current life.
Gobbo achieved notoriety early in her career when she became the youngest woman to be admitted to the bar in Victoria at 25, quickly attracting high-profile gangland clients. A royal commission later reported that her dual role could potentially have influenced over a thousand convictions, with several of her former clients, including Mokbel, successfully overturning their convictions following the revelation of her role.
In this latest legal setback, Gobbo has also been ordered to cover the state’s legal costs. This is not the first time she has taken legal action against Victoria Police; in 2010, she sued them for failing to ensure her protection as a witness and reached an out-of-court settlement of nearly $3 million.