Faruk Orman settles civil case against his former lawyer, Nicola Gobbo

Wrongly convicted gangland figure Faruk Orman has settled his civil case with police informer Nicola Gobbo just before the Supreme Court trial was set to begin.

Wrongly convicted gangland figure Faruk Orman has settled his civil case with the woman who betrayed him, supergrass Nicola Gobbo, as he sues her for helping send him to jail.

The Supreme Court trial, which was to start this week, was delayed after Orman agreed to terms with Gobbo — aka Lawyer X — who secretly snitched on him as a registered police informer and helped turn a key witness against him.

Orman was suing Gobbo for damages over her gross professional negligence which was pivotal in him spending 12 years in prison.

He was convicted in 2009 over the murder of gangster Victor Peirce who was shot in Port Melbourne in 2002.

Faruk Orman has decided not to go to trial against Lawyer X Nicola Gobbo.

During his imprisonment, Orman was placed in isolation for long periods in an attempt to get him to “roll” on his associates.

Orman was released from prison in 2019 after he appealed his conviction due to the Lawyer X scandal.

After his release he quickly emerged as a player in the building industry where he has an array of connections.

Gobbo had planned to counter Orman’s civil suit by attempting to expose his own business dealings, but changed tack as the trial loomed.

For months her lawyers have been sending subpoenas to a who’s who of underworld figures associated with him, including long-time supporter Mick Gatto.

The Herald Sun was told those individuals were annoyed at the prospect of giving evidence or being made to hand over sensitive material to Gobbo’s lawyers.

The decision to settle and avoid a trial, which resolves the case by some administrative matters, also may come as a relief to Orman’s wider connections in the construction industry.

Orman’s communications with CFMEU officials formed part of Gobbo’s defence.

The Supreme Court trial was delayed after Orman decided to settle the case with Nicola Gobbo.

The Herald Sun was told by Gobbo’s legal team that she “was not too worried” about Orman’s case against her earlier this month.

But it’s believed Gobbo, who has a portfolio of properties and in 2011 was awarded $2.88m from the state government, made the move to settle.

Although the details are still being “ironed out” it is understood an amount has been tabled to Orman.

Orman’s legal team had encountered obstacles discovering Gobbo’s assets in their multimillion-dollar claim.

Gobbo, as part of her protection, lives under a new name which is not discoverable.

It’s understood Orman’s lawyers have had difficulty ascertaining her net worth due to the secrecy provisions surrounding her identity.

Had the trial proceeded it is believed Gobbo would have been called to give evidence.

Orman’s lawyer, Jeremy King, said he had no comment to make on the case.

This week’s settlement is Orman’s second legal win.

In November, 2024, Orman settled with the Allan government for close to $1m, the maximum any Lawyer X claimant can receive under legislation it created to cap payouts over the scandal.

Gobbo is currently suing the state.

Originally published as Faruk Orman settles civil case against his former lawyer, Nicola Gobbo