Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Bennett & Co (A Firm)

The case of Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia v Bennett & Co (A Firm) involved a dispute between the Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia (DPP) and Bennett & Co, a firm of solicitors. The case arose from proceedings related to the confiscation of property under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (WA). The primary legal issue before the court was whether Bennett & Co should be restrained from acting for Centurion Trust Company Limited, an interested party in the proceedings, due to their inadvertent access to confidential information.

The court held that Bennett & Co had inadvertently obtained confidential information, which was protected by statute and public interest immunity. The court found that there was a real and sensible risk of inadvertent disclosure or derivative use of this confidential information by Bennett & Co, despite their undertakings to maintain confidentiality. The court concluded that the public interest in protecting confidential information outweighed the potential prejudice to Centurion Trust Company Limited, and therefore granted the injunction sought by the DPP. The court emphasised the importance of maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice and the need to prevent inadvertent disclosure of confidential information.