ClubsNSW will withdraw all legal action against its terminally ill former employee Troy Stolz, in a signal the lobby group is taking a fresh approach after the sacking of its chief executive Josh Landis last week.
Stolz and ClubsNSW signed a confidential settlement on Tuesday morning following extensive negotiations, with both parties agreeing to drop their legal claims against one another.Credit:Stolz, who has oesophagus and bone cancer, said the agreement came as a relief. He spent five days under cross-examination in the Federal Court in December and the case was due to return to court in February.
“It’s taken a massive toll on my health,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over and I’m still keen to move forward and advocate for gambling reform. I can’t keep fighting in court, spending money I don’t have and leaving [wife] Diane and the kids with nothing.” Stolz was suing his former employer for defamation and alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act, while ClubsNSW was suing him for breaching the confidentiality clause of his employment contract and criminal contempt.ClubsNSW has also agreed to drop its action against Stolz’s wife, Diane, who was claimed to be in receipt of confidential information allegedly obtained by Stolz.
The criminal action, which was brought privately by ClubsNSW without the involvement of the Director of Public Prosecutions, was widely condemned, with former casino mogul James Packer describing it as “ruthless unethical behaviour”.Stolz is running for NSW parliament as an independent candidate against opposition leader Chris Minns in the seat of Kogarah on a gambling reform platform.