Case ID: how-pr_38/html/0079-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Blatchford, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
    
      In Re Garret S. Bellis & James Milligan.
    A witness who was a lawyer, being under examination was questioned, touching a certain conveyance made to him by the bankrupt and wife and a subsequent conveyance by him to the wife, and refused to testify thereon as matter within the privilege of confidential communications between attorney and client.
    
      Held, on the facts stated, the questions were proper and must be answered, and are not within such privilege.
    
      Southern District of New York,
    
    
      September, 1869.
    
      Before John Fitch, Begister.
    
    The attorneys for Edward C. Williams, assignee of said bankrupts, claim the right to examine a witness in the above entitled cause, concerning a deed executed by James Milligan, one of said bankrupts, and Elizabeth, his wife, to one John T. Gray, between the first days of January and July, 1868; the consideration that passed between the said parties to this deed, and the property conveyed ; also concerning a deed executed by-to Elizabeth R. Milligan, wife of James Milligan, between the first days of January and July, 1868, the consideration and the property conveyed.
    On the 8th day of April, 1868, James Milligan, and Elizabeth, his wife, executed a deed conveying certain property, situate in the city of Brooklyn, state of New York, to-of New York city.
    On the 10th day of April, 1868, the said-conveyed the same property to Elizabeth R. Milligan, wife of said James Milligan.
    Q. 1. State whether James Milligan, one of the bankrupts, conveyed to you by deed, on, or about, the 8th day of April, 1868, certain real estate situated in the city of Brooklyn %
    
    Q. 2. State the consideration, if any, given by you to him therefor ?
    
      Q. 3. State whether you simultaneously, on, or about, the same date, by deed, conveyed to Elizabeth E. Milligan, wife of said James Milligan, the same premises so conveyed by you to James Milligan on, or about the 8th day of April, 1868.
    Q. 4. State the consideration, if any, given to you by Elizabeth E. Milligan therefor.
    Q. 5. State whether at' that time any suit or action at law was pending, in relation to the said real estate between the said James Milligan and wife, and any person in which you were attorney or counsel of Mr. and Mrs. Milligan, or whether there has, since that 8th day of April, 1868, been such an action pending in relation to said real estate, in which you were attorney or counsel.
    -is an attorney in all the courts; being called as a witness in the matter of Beilis and Milligan, bankrupts, refuses to testify concerning the above-said transfers, on the ground, that they were made in the course of his professional business, and are therefore, within the privilege of confidential communications between him and his clients.
    The examination of-as a witness, in this matter, does not involve any statement, confidential or otherwise, made by James Milligan to him, or any advice given by him to his client, the said James Milligan, but merely the part he performed in a. business transaction wherein he was grantee in the first place, and grantor in the second, of certain real estate as hereinbefore mentioned.
    In this case, the witness claims that the rule which protects professional communications of clinents to their attorney, or counsel, extends to all business communications as well as those appertaining to suits in law or equity or other judicial proceedings. Upon examining the authorities, I find, that in the early history of litigation parties prosecuted or defended their suits in person. In the progress of time, as litigation increased, and judicial proceedings became settled and established, men skilled and learned-in the law and practice of the courts, were employed to conduct the prosecution and defense of causes. Parties were not then compelled to testify, and hesitated to communicate the facts in relation to their causes to others; to obviate that difficulty, the courts adopted the rule in relation to professional communications of clients to their attorneys, exempting the same from disclosure, &c. Among the early cases upon this subject is that of Annesly agt. The Earl of Anglesea, before the Barons of the Irish Exchequer, (17 How. St. Trial, 1,139.) The case was most- extensively and ably argued, and very elaborately considered by the court, and the conclusion arrived at, as to the true origin of the rule in question, may be best stated in the language of Mr. Babón Mountenat, who says, at page 1,240: “ Mr. Recorder has very properly mentioned the foundation upon which it hath been held, and it is certainly undoubted law, that the attorneys ought to keep inviolably the secrets of their clients, viz.: That an increase of legal business and the inability of parties to transact that business themselves, made it necessary for them to employ other persons who might transact that business for them. That this necessity, introduced with it, the necessity of what the law hath very justly established, an inviolable secrecy to be observed by attorneys, in order to render it safe for clients to communicate to their attorneys all proper instructions for the carrying on of these causes which they found themselves under the necessity of entrusting to their care.”
    In the case of Dickens agt. Pramelee (2 Vermont B., 185,) Paddock, Justice, says: “It also became necessary for courts to adopt a rule by way of pledge to suitors that their secret and confidential communications to their attorneys should not be drawn from them with or without the consent of such attorney.”
    Among the earliest cases to be found on this subject are Berd agt. Lovelace, (Gary’s B., p. 88); Austin agt. Vesey, (id., 89); Kiltvay agt. Kilway, {id,., 126); Dennis agt. Codrington, {id., 143.) Solicitors and counsel were excused from testifying, on the ground, that they were solicitors or counsel in the cause. In Waldron, agt. Ward, (Stiles R., 449,) a witness was offered in evidence to be examined as to some matter u whereof he had been made privy as of counsel in the cause.” The courts would not permit the examination. In Sparks agt. Middleton, (Redley, 505), counsel for the defendant was excused from testifying, on the ground, ‘‘ that he should only reveal-such things as he either knew before he was of counsel, or. that came to his knowledge since, by other persons.” In Curtis agt. Pickering, (1 Ventr., 197), a witness was called to testify concerning an erasure in a will, supposed to have been made by Pickering, The witness, after the erasure, was retained as his solicitor in the cause. In Valliant agt. Dodermead, {2 Atkins, 524), witness was called to prove certain interrogatories. Objections, that his knowledge of the matters was obtained as a clerk in court. Evidence received. Lord Hardwick says: u that the matters inquired after by the plaintiff’s interrogatories, were antecedent transactions to the commencement of the suit.” In the then last cited cases the communications to the respective parties were during the pendency of an action in which they were either attorney, solicitor, or counsel. The same rule is held by the courts in this state, and seems to decide the question in this case. In 17 Johnson, 335, the court says: u The privilege, in its most comprehensive sense, is not broad enough to cover collateral facts, the answer to which does not betray any confidential communication between attorney and client.”
    An attorney or counsel may be called on to testify to a collateral fact within his knowledge or to a fact which he might know without being entrusted with it by his client {Johnson agt. Daverne, 19 Johnson, 134; 4th Term, 431.)
    Communications made to an attorney at law with a view to obtain his assistance in the commission of a felony are not privileged;' 3 Barb., 598. In the case of the Rochester City Bank agt. Suydam, (5 Sow., p. 254.) To be brought within its protection if they do not appertain to any suit or legal proceeding commenced or comtemplated, should be made under- cover of an employment strictly professional, and should be such as the business to be done requires to be made. They should also be of a confidential nature, and so considered at the time, and should be shown to have been made with direct reference to the professional business upon which they may be supposed to bear. (17 How. State Trials, 1,139; 1 G-reenleaf JEv., 244; 1 Philips JEv., 145; 1 Starhey.)
    
    In section 26 of the Bankrupt Act, 1867, it is provided that the court may at all times require the bankrupt, upon reasonable notice, to attend and submit to an examination on oath, upon all matters relating to the disposal or condition of his property; the bankrupt is, therefore, liable to be called (and in this case has been called,) and examined upon these very transactions.1 He cannot extend an immunity to his attorney which he does not possess himself. The privilege is for the benefit of the client, not the attorney. The authorities upon this point which I have cited, show that originally no communications were protected as confidential professional communications, except that which related to the management of some suit or judicial proceeding actually pending or about to be commenced in some court. Few cases have gone beyond that. Even the case of Wilson agt.Troup, (7 Johnson, C.JR., 25; and 2 OowenJR., 195; S. 0.) Haight, an attorney, was retained to conduct the foreclosure of a mortgage, by advertisement under the act concerning the foreclosure of mortgages by advertisement. It was claimed that Troup employed Haight because Haight was a lawyer, and the court of errors evidently considered the relation of the party in the statutory foreclosure case, namely: Troup and Haight as that of attorney and client, and therefore the evidence of Haight was not admissible as against Troup, his client. This decision is unquestionably correct and founded upon the principle, that a statutory foreclosure of a mortgage by advertisement is in the nature of a judicial proceeding. And in Jackson agt. Dominick, (14 Johnson JR., 443), the court says: “That a foreclosure under the statute is substantially equivalent to a foreclosure in equity, same in effect. (5 How. Dr. R,, 261.)
    In this case there was no action pending. The witness drew a deed conveying certain real estate from James Milligan to himself. He then conveyed the said real estate to Mrs. Milligan, the wife of said James Milligan. There was no action then pending in regard to said real estate, and the question before the court in relation.to the real estate now is, whether the legal title of the real estate so conveyed vests in Mrs. Milligan as against the assignee in bankruptcy. How, the witness is simply called upon to state the fact of the receiving and the conveying of the real estate, the consideration, if any, he gave or received therefor and what was said and done on the occasion. His testimony, if given, cannot do injustice to any one. The same facts have been proven by James Milligan in these proceedings. The deeds can be given in evidence, and although Mrs. Milligan cannot be compelled to testify to these facts in bankruptcy, still she can be made to do so by a bill in equity on the part of the assignee against herself, her husband and the witness to set aside said conveyance as fraudulent &c., &c'., as against the assignee in bankruptcy, (30 Barb., 506.) The court of appeals, in 30IV. Y.,p. 330, Selden, Judge, holds, that the rule which protects professional communications of clients to their attorneys or counsel from disclosure, should only extend to such communications as have relation to some suit or other judicial proceeding either existing or contemplated.
    The testimony in this case is claimed only for the bankrupt which brings it within the cases of Griffith agt. Davis, (5 Barn, and Aid. 502) 5 Shore, agt. Bedford, (5 Man. and Gran. 271); Weeks agt. Argent, (16 Mees, and Weis. 817.) In 30H.Y., Ingraham, J, says: “If he was only the counsel of Barney, then the decisions settle that the disclosures being made in the presence of a third party, they are not privileged.” I think that for the purposes of this case Mrs. Milligan, the wife of the petitioner, who received the conveyance from the witness as property to her sole and separate use, must be considered as a third person. I have given the authorities as they were previous to the Legislative enactments in the state, in relation to the examination of parties as witnesses, which enactments are as follows: Any party in any civil suit or proceeding, either in law or equity, had before any court or officers, may require any adverse party, whether complainant, plaintiff, petitioner or defendant,or any one of said adverse party, any and every person who is benificially interested in said suit or proceedings, though not nominally as parties, to give testimony under oath in such suit or proceeding; and such adverse party may be examined orally,or under a commission,in the same manner as persons not parties to such suit or proceeding, and who are competent witnesses therein; and such party may be subpoened and his attendance as a witness compelled, or he may be examined by a commission, or conditionally, or his testimony perpetuated in the same manner as any competent witness.
    
      “ The court or officer before whom such suit or proceeding may be* had shall have power to dismiss the bill, petition or proceeding of any party, or any part thereof, with costs, or non-suit any party, or strike out or disregard any defense, or any part thereof, of any party who shall refuse to testify.
    
      u Any party in any suit or proceeding as aforesaid shall be required, to entitle him to examine the adverse party as a witness in any suit or proceeding, to give testimony therein, in the same manner as the attendance of witnesses in ordinary cases.”
    The act of congress, July 16th, 1862, provides:
    ‘‘ That the laws of the state in which the court shall be held shall be the rules * * * as to the competency of witnesses in the court of the United States.”
    In this case- the rights and privileges of the attorney, and his duty to his clients are entirely separate, and distinguished from his rights and duties as purchaser and vendor. The transaction in relation to the purchase and sale of the real estate was not a part and parcel of, or in and about any law suit in which he was counsel, for either the petitioner or his wife. It therefore stands as a transaction of purchase and sale of real estate, the witness purchasing the real estate of Mr. Milligan, and selling the same to Mrs. Milligan, his wife, two days thereafter.
    It is claimed by the assignee in bankruptcy that this was a mere fraud and cover, and intended to evade the act of the legislature of 1849,page 538 cliajpt., 375, viz:
    
    
      “ Any married female may take by inheritance or by gift, grant, devise or bequest, from any person other than her husband, and hold to her sole and separate use and convey and devise real and personal property, and any interest or estate therein, and the rents, issues and profits thereof in the same manner and with like effect as if she were unmarried, and' the same shall not be subject to the disposal of her husband or be liable for his debts.”
    The assignee also claims that the conveyance from the witness to Mrs. Milligan is void; that it was a mere formal transfer of the real estate from the husband to the wife, using the name of the witness as a mere go between, so that the conveyance might technically conform to the letter of the statute, and at the same time defeat the spirit and intent of the law; that the wife acquired no legal or vested rights therein by said conveyance other than her contingent right of dower to which she was previously entitled. The courts ever have and now do hold, that the character of their attorneys should be above reproach and beyond suspicion; that they should never be a party to the perpetration of any fraud or any act of doubtful integrity, or in the remotest manner violating any of our country’s laws. The reasons for this are obvious. They, in most instances, draft, if they do not make, the laws, and most certainly, 
      11 the law makers should not be law breakers.” In all xv ell-regulated communities the lawyers are looked up to and respected. It is just and right they should be. They are the best educated men, better versed in the whole policy of our country, are more intelligent.and have broader and more enlarged views of all the relations of life, than any other-class of men; therefore it is that the community requires of them, in all their relations in life, to be entirely free from any wrong, or any act of doubtful propriety. All must see the impropriety of lawyers being connected with any conveyance of real estate, the purpose or effect of which would be to evade the provisions of any law.
    - I find that previous to the act of 1847, and the acts amendatory thereto, an attorney occupied the same relative position as his client in relation to giving testimony, and was privileged as to all matters which his client could not be compelled to disclose.
    But now whenever and wherever the client can be compelled as a witness to testify to any fact, then the attorney must also testify. The statutes of this state having abrogated the former common law rule to that effect.
    That the witness in this case is not privileged, as the mere act of receiving and conveying the title to real estate, about which there has not been any action pending, does not bring him within the former common law rule as to privileged communications to attorneys and counsel, and since the enactment of 1847, no such privilege exists which can be claimed for the witness in this case.
    That the questions are pertinent to the issue, and proper, and the witness must answer.
   Blatchford, J.

On the facts stated by the register the five questions set forth were proper, and must be answered by the witness, and are not within the privilege of confidential communications between attorney and client.