Opinion ID: 2295379
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statements to the defendant's attorneys

Text: [2] It may be questioned whether all statements made to an attorney during the course of legal representation may be considered part of judicial proceedings and thus entitled to absolute privilege. We think, however, that an action in defamation based on statements made to an attorney representing the declarant must fail because the plaintiff is unable to establish an essential element of his case, namely, that the alleged statements were in fact made. There is little question on the facts presented that all the statements referred to in the plaintiff's writ would have occurred while the attorneys mentioned were representing Dahar in the civil action and advising him concerning the criminal charges against McGranahan. The alleged statements clearly fall into the category of communications made during the course of legal representation, which are confidential and permanently protected from disclosure. See Riddle Spring Realty Co. v. State, 107 N.H. 271, 273, 220 A.2d 751, 754 (1966). [3] The attorney-client privilege is considered an evidentiary one, not a matter of substantive law. See 8 J. WIGMORE, EVIDENCE §§ 2294-95 (McNaughton Rev. 1961). But see Vogel v. Gruaz, 110 U.S. 311 (1884). The plaintiff's allegations concerning these statements are incapable of proof, because neither the defendant nor his attorneys can be compelled to divulge the content of those conversations. Stevens v. Thurston, 112 N.H. 118, 289 A.2d 398 (1972). [4] The attorney-client privilege may not be absolute when there is a compelling need for the information and no alternative source is available. Stevens v. Thurston, 112 N.H. 118, 289 A.2d 398 (1972); Note, The Attorney-Client Privilege: Fixed Rules, Balancing and Constitutional Entitlement, 91 HARV. L. REV. 464 (1977). In the present case no such compelling need exists. The plaintiff is not seeking disclosure of evidence concerning criminal or tortious acts committed outside an attorney's office, which might fall within a recognized exception to the privilege. See United States v. Nardi (D.N.H. July 16, 1979); Note, The Future Crime of Tort Exception to Communications Privileges, 77 HARV. L. REV. 730 (1964). Instead, the plaintiff alleges that the communications themselves constitute a tort, for which he can recover damages without proof of actual harm. See Thomson v. Cash, 119 N.H. 371, 376, 402 A.2d 651, 654 (1979). Subjecting a client to liability, or indeed to the burden of defending against a defamation action, for statements made to his attorney pertinent to and during the course of legal representation would seriously impair the full and frank discussions that the attorney-client privilege is designed to protect. See Riddle Spring Realty Co. v. State, 107 N.H. 271, 274, 220 A.2d 751, 755 (1966). Affording a party to litigation or a witness absolute immunity for pleadings filed and statements made in court would come to little if they were to be subjected to potential liability for preliminary conversations with their attorney in which they have an opportunity to test their knowledge and the basis for their opinions. On balance, the plaintiff's desire for civil damages in defamation is not sufficiently compelling to warrant abrogation of the attorney-client privilege. See Matter of Kozlov, 79 N.J. 232, 398 A.2d 882 (1979). There is little question here of pertinency. The plaintiff himself alleges that the statements were all made for the ulterior purpose of creating a plausible defense to the suit by American Snacks. Whether the privilege in this instance exists cannot turn on the ultimate success of the defense propounded by the defendant with the advice of counsel. In order to further full and open disclosure and exploration between attorney and client, immunity must be afforded for all statements that bear on the subject matter of the legal representation. A client seeking legal advice cannot be expected to anticipate those facts that will ultimately give rise to a successful legal argument. We hold that the defendant's statements to his attorneys concerning the American Snacks suit are privileged and cannot be the basis for this action in defamation. RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 587, Comment b (1977).