Opinion ID: 1749386
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: did the circuit court err in allowing the tape recorded conversation between mrs. miller and dillon into evidence?

Text: Although we have previously disapproved of attorneys secretly tape recording conversations with adverse parties, Netterville v. Miss. State Bar, 397 So.2d 878 (Miss. 1981), we have also held that the admission of a tape recording and transcript into evidence under like circumstances was fully justified. Wilkins v. Bancroft, 248 Miss. 622, 160 So.2d 93 (1964). We take this opportunity to clarify our position. An attorney's actions in secretly tape recording conversations with adverse parties cannot be condoned. In J.C. Penney Co. Inc. v. Blush, 356 So.2d 590 (Miss. 1978), this Court adopted the formal opinion 337, A.B.A. Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, which stated in part: The committee concludes that no lawyer should record any conversation whether by tapes or other electronic device, without the consent or prior knowledge of all parties to the conversation. Nevertheless, while we cannot condone the attorney's actions here, we do not regard the introduction of the tape as reversible error. Dillon freely admitted the conversation and its contents and the parties had stipulated to the accuracy of the transcription. Because Dillon conceded having made the statements we conclude that there was no showing of prejudice. We therefore conclude that there is no merit to this assignment of error.