Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

A Gap in Federal Rule of Evidence 502 (Waiver of Privilege and Work Product)

There is a gap in the scope of Federal Rule of Evidence 502 (Attorney -Client Privilege and Work Product; Limitations on Waiver), the excellent new rule that was enacted into law on September 19, 2008.

The Rule addresses disclosures “made in a federal proceeding or to a federal office” (Rule 502(a), (b)) and disclosures “made in a state proceeding” (Rule 502(c)).

The Rule does not address disclosures made to a state office or agency outside of a state proceeding.

In a diversity action, Rule 501 dictates application of state law in this circumstance. If Rule 501 does not apply, one would expect the norms of Rule 502 to govern, even though, in theory, one could apply preexisting federal common law of waiver to this unaddressed scenario, thereby resuscitating the precept — overruled by Rule 502 — that an inadvertent waiver, in at least the D.C. Circuit, could effect a subject matter waiver of privilege and protection.

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