Opinion ID: 1802093
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Same Subject Matter

Text: An attorney or law firm must avoid the present representation of a cause against a client that the attorney or law firm formerly represented, and which cause involves a subject matter which is the same as or substantially related to that formerly handled by the attorney or law firm. State ex rel. Wal-Mart v. Kortum, 251 Neb. 805, 559 N.W.2d 496 (1997). In its order, the district court, relying on our decision in State ex rel. Firs-Tier Bank v. Buckley, 244 Neb. 36, 503 N.W.2d 838 (1993), cites the appearance of impropriety as its reason for disqualifying Jacobsen, Orr. However, we have recently held that in the context of substantially related matters, the appearance of impropriety is not a factor that may be considered in determining whether or not to disqualify an attorney or firm. State ex rel. Wal-Mart v. Kortum, supra . Neither is the appearance of impropriety a factor to be considered in analyzing whether the same subject matter is involved. Nonetheless, where the record demonstrates that the decision of the trial court is correct, although such correctness is based on a different ground from that assigned by the trial court, the appellate court will affirm. Gustin v. Scheele, 250 Neb. 269, 549 N.W.2d 135 (1996); Whitten v. Whitten, 250 Neb. 210, 548 N.W.2d 338 (1996). We determine that Jacobsen's attorney-client relationship with Terri Richardson involved the same subject matter as that presently handled by Jacobsen, Orr in representing the Griffithses.