Opinion ID: 2549623
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Baker evidence

Text: ES employed legal assistant Pollie J. Baker from October 2000 until mid-January 2001. Baker worked primarily for ES attorney Ed Kainen. During the period of Baker's employment, ES represented Steven in the divorce proceedings. Attorney Thomas J. Standish testified that he did the majority of work on the Leibowitz divorce, but he had some help from Kainen. Baker had access to the Leibowitz files, but Baker averred that she did not have any contact with the Leibowitz case while employed at ES. ES presented evidence that Baker had actual involvement with the case. Around June 2001, Baker went to work for DDCP and Baker worked there for several months. She left DDCP for a short period of time and returned in late 2001. Baker ended her relationship with DDCP on April 24, 2002. DDCP indicated that it did not inform ES about Baker's employment at the time because it was unaware of Baker's previous employment with ES. Baker's resume did not disclose her employment with ES. ES filed a motion asking the district court to determine the disqualification issues. According to ES, it indicated if Ciaffone mandated disqualification whenever a nonlawyer employee had mere access to privileged or confidential information, then both firms should be disqualified. However, ES argued that Ciaffone only required disqualification when an employee actually obtained privileged or confidential information. Under this interpretation of Ciaffone, ES asserted that neither firm should be disqualified. DDCP's response argued that Ciaffone required disqualification of both firms. The district court concluded that Ciaffone mandated automatic disqualification whenever a nonlawyer employee had access to an adverse party's privileged or confidential information during employment by that party's attorneys. The district court also found that Magalianes had actual communication with Deena during her employment with DDCP, inferring that Magalianes may have obtained privileged or confidential information. As to Baker, the district court concluded that she did not view or have access to any of the Leibowitz files while employed at ES. [3] The district court disqualified ES but declined to disqualify DDCP. This writ petition was then filed.