Tech billionaire Richard White has been asked to produce a raft of documents in a court fight with a Sydney beauty entrepreneur who has claimed he “expected” sex from her in return for a promise to invest in her business.
But his barrister told the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday there was no need to ask White’s wife, former criminal defence lawyer Zena Nasser, for the same documents.
Linda Rogan, left, and her legal team including barrister Bridie Nolan, right, outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Linda Rogan, a former Real Housewives of Sydney contender, is seeking a court order setting aside a bankruptcy notice issued to her by the WiseTech co-founder, one of Australia’s richest men, over almost $100,000 she claims she spent at his behest to furnish a $13.1 million Vaucluse mansion.
Jeremy Giles, SC, acting for White, told Justice Nye Perram at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday that “we have an unsurprising, in light of what’s been said, desire for a quick trial in this matter”.
Giles said a notice to produce had been served by Rogan’s lawyers on White. This requires a party in proceedings to produce documents to their opponent.
The notice to produce was “in the same terms” as subpoenas “addressed to his wife” and his solicitor, Justin Betar, Giles said, and the “subpoenas are in that sense unnecessary and duplicative”.
Giles said there was “no need ... to go and serve Ms Nasser or Mr Betar” with the subpoenas because White himself would produce the documents, subject to a claim for legal professional privilege.
Legal professional privilege protects the confidentiality of some communications between lawyers and clients.
Bridie Nolan, acting for Rogan, said she had “no difficulty” with that approach.
Giles estimated it would take two weeks to sift through the documents because “there’s a collation across social media accounts and electronic accounts”.
Linda Rogan, Richard White and White’s wife, Zena Nasser.Credit: Nick Moir, Oscar Colman, supplied
Perram scheduled the matter for a final hearing on February 6. The parties return to court for a preliminary hearing on October 31.
Rogan was touted last year as a potential cast member on The Real Housewives of Sydney.
She has alleged White purchased a Vaucluse home in 2022 for her to live in with her children but that she never moved in because Nasser discovered the clandestine relationship.
Rogan, who owns laser clinics in Double Bay, Cairns and Auckland, is seeking to have the bankruptcy notice set aside on the basis that it is “actuated by malice and is an abuse of process”.
Rogan has alleged she sold her stake in another business, Bionik Wellness, after White’s offer of financial backing did not materialise.
“On 17 September [2022], I travelled to New York at the request of Richard. When I arrived at the Park Lane Hotel to check in, I was informed that only 1 suite had been arranged,” she said in an affidavit.
“I realised that Richard expected me to enter into a sexual relationship with him to fulfil the promise that he would invest in my business. So ... our relationship became sexual.”
Rogan’s claims have not yet been tested in court.
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