Abuse Law – Case Law Update – Confidentiality order & documents produced under subpoena – Storer v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 1043

In the matter of Storer v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 1043, the plaintiff, Mr Raymond Michael Storer, sought damages from the defendant, the State of New South Wales, for psychiatric injuries sustained as a result of childhood abuse in which he holds the defendant responsible.   

In this matter, on 7 June 2023, the solicitors for the plaintiff filed and served a subpoena on the Catholic Church Insurance Limited seeking the production of all statements of persons who held themselves out as being victims as children to sexual abuse by two named persons (Robert (Dolly) Dunn and Brother Ronald Blyth), as well as other related documentation and material.  

The Catholic Church Insurance Limited applied to the New South Wales Supreme Court for orders pursuant to the Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) that would have the effect of restricting or prohibiting the full name of the complainants, or any other identifying details, to any person other than the parties to the proceedings. The Catholic Church Insurance Limited also applied for further orders that that complainants are referred to by pseudonyms, and that the publication of any of the complainant’s names or other identifying particulars be prohibited.