Gina Rinehart takes legal action against Fairfax journalist Adele Ferguson

Gina Rinehart has taken legal action against Adele Ferguson, a Fairfax business journalist who last year wrote an unauthorised biography of the mining magnate. 

Fairfax reports Ferguson was served with a subpoena to reveal details of her conversations with John Rinehart, who is suing his mother over claims she acted improperly to prevent her children accessing the family trust. 

Ferguson has said she will not reveal her sources. She has been given until March 29 to comply with the court order. Failure to do so could result in her being found in contempt of court. 

Rinehart is a major shareholder of Fairfax Media.