Opinion ID: 1095024
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Communicating With Adverse Party Without Its Attorney's Consent

Text: The bar association alleges that in connection with Welborn's worker's compensation case Murphy J. White sent a letter to the defendant employer and its insurance carrier demanding payment of medical expenses although he knew that they were represented in the case by an attorney. A copy of this letter was also sent to the trial judge in the case. The respondent testified that the letters were missent due to his secretary's mistake, that he intended that they be sent to opposing counsel. His testimony was equivocal, however, as to whether he had signed the letters. His secretary testified that it was her mistake in addressing the correspondence directly to adverse parties instead of to their attorney. She testified that she could not be certain whether the signature on the letters was that of White. Nevertheless, the Commissioner observes features that convincingly show respondent knowingly sent the letters: the signatures resemble White's signature on other documents; and the letters contain direct demands upon adverse parties and not indirect demands upon them through an attorney. The fact that copies of the letters were sent to the trial judge, and not to opposing counsel, tends to discount the likelihood of secretarial error, and make more likely an attempt by the respondent attorney to intimidate adverse parties. We conclude by finding that the respondent White knowingly [c]ommunicate[d] or cause[d] another to communicate on the subject of the representation with a party he [knew] to be represented by a lawyer in that matter [without] the prior consent of the lawyer representing such other party.... DR 7-104(A)(1).