Opinion ID: 1135978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: bar ethics opinions

Text: In concluding that rule 4-4.2 does not prohibit ex parte communications with former employees, Florida Bar Professional Ethics Comm. Op. 88-14 (Mar. 7, 1989), the Florida Bar's Committee on Professional Ethics has determined that: Nothing in Rule 4-4.2 or the comment states whether the rule applies to communications with former managers and other former employees. To the extent that the comment implies that the rule does apply to these individuals, it is contrary to ethics committees' interpretation of the rule. Rule 4-4.2 cannot reasonably be construed as requiring a lawyer to obtain permission of a corporate party's attorney in order to communicate with former managers or other former employees of the corporation unless such individuals have in fact consented to or requested representation of the corporation's attorney. A former manager or other employee who has not maintained ties to the corporation (as a litigation consultant, for example) is no longer part of the corporate entity and therefore is not subject to the control or authority of the corporation's attorney. In many cases it may be true that the interests of the former manager or employee are not allied with the interests of the corporation. In such cases the conflict of interests would preclude the corporation's attorney from actually representing the individual and therefore would preclude the corporation's attorney from controlling access to the individual. As the comment indicates with regard to current employees, if a former manager or former employee is represented in the matter by his personal attorney, permission of that attorney must be obtained for ex parte contacts, including contacts by the corporation's attorney. A former manager or employee is no longer in a position to speak for the corporation. Further, under both the federal and the Florida rules of evidence, statements that might be made by a former manager or other employee during an ex parte interview would not be admissible against the corporation. Both Rule 801(d)(2)(D), Federal Rule of Evidence, and Section 90.803(18)(e), Florida Evidence Code, provide that a statement by an agent or servant of a party is admissible against the party if it concerns a matter within the scope of the agency or employment and is made during the existence of the agency or employment relationship. Id. at 2. [2] In determining that rule 4-4.2 was not meant to prevent the solicitation of relevant information from former employees, as opposed to the rule's obvious restrictions on contacts with current employees, the ethics committee cited the opinion in Wright v. Group Health Hospital, 103 Wash.2d 192, 691 P.2d 564 (1984), for the proposition: [b]ecause former employees cannot possibly speak for a defendant corporation, the rule against communicating with adverse parties does not apply. The court found no reason to distinguish between former employees who witnessed an event and those whose act or omission caused the event. The court said the purpose of the communication rule is not to protect a corporate party from revelation of prejudicial facts, but rather to preclude interviewing of employees who have authority to bind the corporation. Florida Bar Professional Ethics Comm. Op. 88-14 at 3 (citing Wright, 691 P.2d at 569). The American Bar Association Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has also cited Wright for the same proposition in concluding that neither the text nor the comment to Model Rule 4.2 provided a basis for extending its coverage to former employees. ABA Comm. on Ethics and Professional Responsibility Formal Op. 91-359 (1991).