Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Revised Rule 502 on Privilege Waiver — Final Committee Version

Download associated file: Final Rule 502 from Evid Committee.pdf 

The meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence Rules has ended, and the final Committee version of Rule 502 is attached (it goes to the Standing Committee in June). Most notable: Selective waiver was broken out into a separate statute for Congress to consider for separate legislation -- the Committee took no position on the merits of selective waiver. Other important changes to Rule 502:

1. There is a new subdivision clarifying that it applies in diversity cases.

2. There is a new subdivision clarifying that it applies to state proceedings despite rules 101 and 1101.

3. The text clarifies that federal law applies to determine the effect of a disclosure of protected information made in state proceedings, when that information is later offered in a federal trial -- unless the state rule provides greater protection, in which case state law applies.

4. An intent requirement added to subject matter waiver -- no subject matter waiver unless the disclosure of protected information was intentional.

5. The following language was deleted from Subdivision (b): "once the holder knew or should have known of the disclosure" — "reasonable and prompt" is the requirement for retrieving inadvertently-produced material.

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Recent Posts

(1) Appellate Review of Inherent Power Sanctions (7th Circuit): Factual Findings Reviewed for Clear Error, Choice of Sanction for Abuse of Discretion — 4-Element Test for Reversal; (2) Sanctions and Class Actions: Monetary Sanctions Properly Imposed on Defendants for Improper Communications with Class Members (Represented Parties) — “[I]f The Class And The Class Opponent Are Involved In An Ongoing Business Relationship, Communications From The Class Opponent To The Class May Be Coercive” (Good Quote); (3) Monetary Sanctions under Goodyear v. Haeger: If Same Fact-Gathering Would Have Been Conducted Absent The Misconduct, No But-For Causation — But Only “Rough Justice” Required, “Not Accountant-Like Precision” (Good Quote) — Once Misconduct Is Clear, Time Spent Ferreting It Out Compensable under Goodyear; (4) Goodyear Did Not Overrule Long-Standing Rule That Courts May Impose Modest Civil Monetary Sanctions to Curb Litigation Abuse; (5) Appellate Jurisdiction Lacking Where Sanctioned Attorney Fails to File Notice of Appeal and Lawyer’s Intent to Appeal Not Apparent from Client’s Notice; (5) Rule 11 Improper Purpose — Party May Have Many Purposes for Pursuing Claim — As Long As Claim Is Supported by Good Faith Belief in the Merits, “A Parallel Reason Does Not Violate Rule 11” — To Deny A Motion for Sanctions, The District Court Need Not Address Every Argument: “Arguments Clearly Without Merit Can, And For The Sake Of Judicial Economy Should, Be Passed Over In Silence” (Good Quote); Non-Monetary Sanction on Counsel: Complete Twice The Required Amount Of Professional Responsibility Hours For Her Next Continuing Legal Education Cycle Imposed By The State Bar

Archives