Ian Haug, lead guitarist of the band Powderfinger, has filed a lawsuit against Brisbane based Conrad Treasury Casino, operated by Jupiters. The lawsuit against the casino is the result of an altercation Huag had with casino security last year. Huag's case has now faced it's first set back, after an Australian Court of Appeals overturned a previous court order for the casino to hand over a large amount of information about the casino's security.

When Powderfinger's lead guitar player, Ian Haug, entered the Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane, Australia last year, he had no idea that he was in store for a night that would consider to be the focal point of his life more than a year later. Huag visited the Conrad Treasury Casino on February 22, 2006, to attend a friend's birthday celebration. By the end of the night, Haug would find himself forcefully ejected from the premises by casino security, with an apparent injury to his wrist, which is a dangerous injury for someone who earns their living as a professional guitar player.

Haug admits to drinking heavily on the night in question, but maintains that he did nothing to deserve his ejection from the casino, particularly in such a rough manner. According to Haug, another patron at the casino lashed out at him without cause or reason just after 4am AEST. However, rather than the trouble maker being ejected, it was Haug who was secured in a wrist lock and forcefully marched out of the casino and pushed out the exit on the Elizabeth Street side of the casino.

The guitarist for Powderfinger later filed a lawsuit against the Brisbane casino, claiming to have suffered serious injury to his left wrist as a result of what Haug refers to as an unlawful assault. As a result, the guitarist has filed suit against the casino for pain and suffering, substantial economic loss and personal injury. The complaint reads that casino security used unnecessary force in the wrist lock, despite Haug telling security that the wrist lock was causing an excessive amount of pain.

In February, Solicitors representing Haug in the case presented a motion for complete disclosure of material evidence by the casino. Documents the Solicitors were seeking in relation to their case included a complete personnel and training records of the security staff involved, a floor plan showing where security cameras were placed and a copy of all camera footage from every camera in the vicinity of the incident.

The original judge to hear the motion ruled in favor of Haug, and ordered the casino to produce all documents and materials within 14 days. However, the casino legal team filed an appeal with the Australian Court of Appeals, on the grounds that revealing the information that was requested would constitute a breach of casino security.

The Brisbane Court of Appeals has now ruled unanimously in favor of the casino and overturned the original order, on the grounds that the request for the documents exceeded what was permitted by Australian Legislation. Haug was also ordered to pay all costs associated with the appeals case.

Although this is a setback for the Powderfinger guitarist's lawsuit against the casino, the case is still moving forward and only time will tell what the final verdict will be.