1 / 55

CHAP. 12 : PRIVILEGES

CHAP. 12 : PRIVILEGES. Prof. JANICKE FALL 2016. DEFINITION. A PRIVILEGE IS A RIGHT OF SOME PERSON OR ENTITY TO BLOCK THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF EVIDENCE IN A CASE EVEN THOUGH RELEVANT EVEN THOUGH CRUCIAL EVEN THOUGH NO PREJUDICE UNDER R403. PURPOSE. TO FURTHER SOME SOCIETAL GOAL

luismartin
Download Presentation

CHAP. 12 : PRIVILEGES

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. CHAP. 12 :PRIVILEGES Prof. JANICKE FALL 2016

  2. DEFINITION • A PRIVILEGE IS A RIGHT OF SOME PERSON OR ENTITY TO BLOCK THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF EVIDENCE IN A CASE • EVEN THOUGH RELEVANT • EVEN THOUGH CRUCIAL • EVEN THOUGH NO PREJUDICE UNDER R403 Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  3. PURPOSE • TO FURTHER SOME SOCIETAL GOAL • REFLECTS HUMANKIND’S EFFORT TO CIVILIZE ITSELF • ENCOURAGING CERTAIN KINDS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATIONS BY KEEPING THEM OUT OF THE COURTS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  4. FEDERAL STANDARDS ON PRIVILEGES • NO RULES WERE ACTUALLY ENACTED • THE U.S. JUDICIAL CONFERENCE PROPOSED THE 500-SERIES OF RULES, BUT THEY DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH CONGRESS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  5. THESE PROPOSALS ARE NOW KNOWN AS “STANDARDS” • NOT OFFICIALLY “RULES” • BUT THEY CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT IN THE COURTS • [ARE POSTED IN COURSE MATERIALS] Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  6. TURN TO TEXAS RULES ON PRIVILEGES Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  7. TEXAS RULE ON ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE • RULE 503 Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  8. ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE • A PERSON WHO CONSULTS A LAWYER FOR THE PURPOSEOF OBTAINING LEGAL ADVICE HAS A PRIVILEGE TO BLOCK DISCLOSURE OF WHAT THE PERSON SAID OR THE LAWYER SAID, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE APPARENTLY CONFIDENTIAL Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  9. EXCEPTIONS VERY NARROW • NEEDS OF THE OTHER SIDE DO NOT CREATE ANY EXCEPTION TO THE PRIVILEGE • THEY CAN TRY TO DISCOVER THE FACTS SOME OTHER WAY • THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT EXCEPTION IS: A LATER ACTION BETWEEN THE LAWYER AND THE CLIENT • MALPRACTICE • ACTION TO COLLECT A FEE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  10. SO-CALLED CRIME/FRAUD “EXCEPTION” • WHERE CLIENT’S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO INVOLVE THE LAWYER IN ASSISTING IN A CRIME OR FRAUD, THE DEFINITION ISN’T MET (PURPOSE ISN’T TO GET LEGAL ADVICE) • NOT REALLY AN EXCEPTION, BUT OFTEN CALLED ONE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  11. WHEN LAWYER THEN DECLINES THE REPRESENTATION • THE PRIVILEGE STANDS, PER THE DEFINITION • NO LAWYER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP IS NEEDED • PRIVILEGE DERIVES FROM THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNICATION Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  12. UNKNOWN EAVESDROPPER • NO EFFECT • APPARENT CONFIDENTIALITY IS ENOUGH • SOME OLDER CASES CONTRA • EAVESDROPPERS CAN BE ENJOINED TO MAINTAIN SILENCE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  13. BOTH SIDES OF CONVERSATION ARE INCLUDED • TRADITIONALLY, ONLY WHAT THE CLIENT SAID WAS PRIVILEGED • HOWEVER, WHAT THE LAWYER SAID USUALLY INHERENTLY REVEALS WHAT THE CLIENT SAID, AND WAS CALLED DERIVATIVELY PRIVILEGED • E.G. : “HMMM! THEN I THINK YOU’RE GUILTY OF MURDER!” Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  14. MOST MODERN DECISIONS SHORTEN THE ANALYSIS AND SAY THE PRIVILEGE COVERS BOTH WAYS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  15. THE CLIENT “OWNS” THE PRIVILEGE, MEANING: • SHE CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO BLOCK DISCLOSURE IN COURT • SHE CAN DECIDE WHICH OF LAWYER’S HELPERS, OR HER OWN HELPERS, SHOULD SEE IT Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  16. THE PROBLEM OF WAIVER • ONLY THE CLIENT OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE (WHO IS OFTEN THE LAWYER) CAN WAIVE • WAIVES BY ACTING: • BY DISCLOSURE; or • PERSONALLY AUTHORIZES DISCLOSURE OF THE COMMUNICATION; or • AUTHORIZES AN AGENT TO DECIDE ON DISCLOSURE OF THE COMMUNICATION • WAIVES BY IMPLICATION: • LAWYER FOR A LITIGANT IS USUALLY PRESUMED TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO WAIVE, UNLESS FACTS SHOW OTHERWISE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  17. CLIENT DECIDES • LAWYER MUST HONOR THE CLIENT’S WAIVER INSTRUCTION • EVEN IF EMBARRASSING TO THE LAWYER • THIS IS A RESULT OF CLIENT “OWNING” THE PRIVILEGE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  18. WAIVER BY CONDUCT: HALF-OPEN DOOR RULE • REVEALING PARTS IN TESTIMONY • REVEALING ONE OPINION BUT ASSERTING PRIVILEGE ON OTHERS ON SAME TOPIC • WAIVER BY PRODUCING IN LITIGATION R. 502 • CODIFIES THE HALF-OPEN RULE • OTHER COMMUNICATIONS THAT OUGHT “IN FAIRNESS” TO BE CONSIDERED WITH WAIVED ITEM Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  19. WAIVER: AFFIRMATIVE USE OF COUNSEL OPINIONS • USING LAWYER’S ADVICE TO GET A BENEFIT IN COURT • IS AN INVOLUNTARY WAIVER • E.G., MENTIONING AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, TO SHOW GOOD FAITH OR LACK OF FRAUD • LAWYER CAN THEN BE DEPOSED, MUST ANSWER RE. THE WHOLE TOPIC • OTHER LAWYERS’ OPINIONS ON THE TOPIC ARE ALSO WAIVED Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  20. NO PICK-AND-CHOOSE WAIVERS • WAIVING AS TO ONE COMMUNICATION USUALLY OPERATES AS A WAIVER ON OTHER PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS ON SAME TOPIC, UP TO THE DATE OF THE WAIVER Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  21. MAY BE SOME RELIEF FROM THIS “SPREADING STAIN” OF WAIVER, IF ACCIDENTAL • COURT ORDER ON THIS IS BINDING • PARTIES’ AGREEMENT IS BINDING, AT LEAST FOR THIS CASE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  22. TEXAS RULE 503 • WALK THROUGH ALL PHRASES OF THIS RULE -- Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  23. PROBLEMS/CASES • 12A • 12B • 12C • Meredith • 12D • Suburban • Upjohn • Osterhoudt (cont’d) Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  24. PROBLEMS/CASES • Zolin • 12E Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  25. MORE TEXAS RULES OF EVIDENCE

  26. TWO MARITAL PRIVILEGES[TEXAS RULE 504] • THE “MARITAL COMMUNICATION” PRIVILEGE • MADE DURING MARRIAGE UNDER APPARENT PRIVACY CONDITIONS • PRIVILEGE BELONGS TO THE SPEAKING SPOUSE • DOES NOT EXTEND TO CONTEMPORANEOUS ACTIONS • PRIVILEGE SURVIVES DIVORCE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  27. EXCEPTIONS • ACTIONS BETWEEN THE SPOUSES • CRIMINAL CASE WHERE ALLEGED VICTIM WAS THE LISTENING SPOUSE, OR A MINOR CHILD • SEVERAL OTHER EXCEPTIONS SEE TEXAS R. EV. 504 Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  28. EXAMPLE • HUSBAND: “LOOK HERE, HONEY, AT ALL THIS MONEY I ROBBED FROM THE BANK!” • IF EX-WIFE BECOMES A TRIAL WITNESS: • SHE CAN BE COMPELLED TO TESTIFY TO SEEING MONEY DUMPED BY HUSBAND ON THE BED, but • HUSBAND CAN PREVENT EX-WIFE FROM TESTIFYING TO WHAT HE SAID Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  29. 2. THE “PRIVILEGE NOT TO BE CALLED” BY THE PROSECUTION[TEX. RULE 504] • BELONGS TO THE WITNESS- SPOUSE, NOT THE ACCUSED SPOUSE; IT IS HER CHOICE • ENDS WITH DIVORCE • DOES NOT APPLY WHERE WITNESS-SPOUSE IS THE ALLEGED VICTIM Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  30. THE NON-ACCUSED SPOUSE (WIFE) MUST TESTIFY IF SUMMONED BY THE ACCUSED SPOUSE (HUSBAND • HER PRIVILEGE IS TO REFUSE TO BE A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  31. MANY OTHER STATES, COMMON LAW(AND MANY MOVIES) • OPPOSITE OF THE TEXAS RULE • THERE, THE PRIVILEGE TO PREVENT THE WIFE FROM TESTIFYING BELONGS TO THE HUSBAND Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  32. PRIVILEGE AGAINST COMPELLED SELF-INCRIMINATION • D CAN’T BE REQUIRED TO TESTIFY • D CAN’T BE OBLIGED TO WRITE OUT A CONFESSION • BUT: IF D WRITES A DOCUMENT ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE, THIS PRIVILEGE DOES NOT APPLY; • ABSENT SOME OTHER PRIVILEGE, IT CAN BE SUBPOENAED AND USED BY THE PROSECUTION Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  33. THE PROBLEM OF BUSINESS FILES • THEY ARE CREATED VOLUNTARILY, SO ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THIS PRIVILEGE • GIVING THEM TO A LAWYER WON’T HELP • BUT SOMETIMES, PRODUCING THEM IN RESPONSE TO SUBPOENA COULD HAVE EFFECT OF MAKING A FORCED STATEMENT -- >> Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  34. EXAMPLE • SUBPOENA REQUESTING “ALL BANK DEPOSIT SLIPS THAT REFLECT DEPOSITS OF MONEY MADE FROM NARCOTIC SALES” • THIS SHOULD BE QUASHED, SINCE THE COMMAND IS PHRASED SUCH THAT COMPLIANCE WOULD AMOUNT TO A COMPELLED STATEMENT Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  35. EXAMPLE 2 • SUBPOENA COMMANDING PRODUCTION OF “THE WEAPON YOU USED IN THE MAY 15 MURDER” • ACT OF COMPLIANCE IS EQUIVALENT TO CONFESSION • SHOULD BE QUASHED Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  36. CIVIL CASES: JUDICIAL COMMENT ON INVOKING THE 5THTex. R. 513(c) • CIVIL PLAINTIFF INVOKING: • IS APT TO BE NON-SUITED IN TEXAS • CIVIL DEFENDANT INVOKING: • WILL HAVE HEAVY NEGATIVE JUDICIAL COMMENT FOR INVOKING 5TH AMENDMENT IN TEXAS • ALL OTHER PRIVILEGES ARE UNMENTIONABLE Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  37. CLERGYMAN-PENITENT[TEXAS RULE 505] • WORKS SIMILARLY TO LAWYER-CLIENT PRIVILEGE • APPLIES IN BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES • MAIN ISSUE TODAY IS: WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE “RELIGIONS”? Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  38. TRADE SECRETTEXAS RULE 507 • ONLY A QUASI-PRIVILEGE • COURT CAN OVERRIDE IT IF MAINTAINING THE PRIVILEGE WOULD “WORK INJUSTICE” • PRETTY EASY TO BREAK TODAY, WITH PROTECTIVE ORDER Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  39. PHYSICIAN-PATIENT PRIVILEGE [TEXAS RULE 509] • NO PRIVILEGE IN CRIMINAL CASES IN TEXAS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  40. PHYSICIAN-PATIENT PRIVILEGE [TEXAS RULE 509] • ALMOST NONEXISTENT EVEN IN CIVIL CASES, DUE TO EXCEPTION (e)(4) OF THE RULE: • NO PRIVILEGE WHERE THE PATIENT’S CONDITION IS PART OF A PARTY’S CLAIM OR DEFENSE • MAY APPLY IN IMPEACHMENT SITUATIONS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  41. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS[TEXAS RULE 510] • NO PRIVILEGE IN CRIMINAL CASES • IN CIVIL CASES: • TRACKS THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RULE • INCLUDES DRUG-ABUSE WORKERS • SAME LARGE EXCEPTION Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  42. PARTY’S WORK PRODUCT[FED. R. CIV. P. 26 (b)(3)] • IS NOT A PRIVILEGE, BUT SOMEWHAT LIKE ONE • PARTY’S MATERIALS PREPARED IN ANTICIPATION OF LITIGATION, OR FOR TRIAL, ARE COVERED • LAWYER STUFF IS A BIG PART OF IT, BUT NOT ALL OF IT • CAN BE (AND OFTEN IS) OVERRIDDEN BY A SHOWING OF NEED Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  43. MENTAL IMPRESSIONS OF COUNSEL ARE USUALLY MASKED OUT [SEE NEXT SLIDE] >>> Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  44. TEX. R. CIV. P. 192 • IS SIMILAR TO FED. PRACTICE: • COUNSEL IMPRESSIONS ARE CALLED “CORE” WORK PRODUCT, GENERALLY BLOCKED • THE REST IS CALLED “OTHER WORK PRODUCT” AND CAN BE HAD BY SHOWING “SUBSTANTIAL NEED” • LWYR MEMO TO FILE IS WORK PRODUCT, NOT PRIVILEGED; BUT CAN CONTAIN “CORE” INFO Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  45. UNSETTLED WHETHER WORK PRODUCT HAS PROTECTION IN CRIMINAL CASES • 3 COURTS OF APPEALS HAVE SAID YES. SEE, e.g., WRIGHT v. STATE, 374 S.W. 3d 564 (Tex. App. Houston [14th] 2012) • IF NO PROTECTION, PROCEDURE WOULD LIKELY BE: GRAND JURY SUBPOENA Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  46. PROBLEMS/CASES • Trammel • 12G • Montgomery • 12H • Griffin • 12I [cont’d >>>] Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  47. PROBLEMS/CASES (cont’d) • 12J • Doe Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  48. JOURNALIST’S PRIVILEGE • FEDERAL CASE LAW CREATES A QUASI-PRIVILEGE: MUST EXHAUST OTHER POSSIBLE AVENUES OF EVIDENCE FIRST • TEXAS HAS A STATUTE CREATING THIS PRIVILEGE >>> Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  49. JOURNALIST’S PRIVILEGE IN CIVIL CASESTex. Civ. Prac. & Rems. Code §22.021 • COVERS PERSONS WHO DO NEWS GATHERING OR DISSEMINATION • FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD, OR • FOR SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL GAIN • ALSO COVERS THEIR EMPLOYER COMPANIES • ALSO COVERS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS • BUT NOT OTHER AMATEUR BLOGGERS Chap. 12 -- Privileges

  50. THE PRIVILEGE HAS TWO PRONGS: • TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION COLLECTED IN THAT CAPACITY, WHETHER OR NOT CONFIDENTIAL • TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE SOURCES • PUBLICATION OF THE COLLECTED INFORMATION BY A NEWS MEDIUM IS NOT A WAIVER Chap. 12 -- Privileges

More Related