Opinion ID: 2036121
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: compelled disclosure of client information

Text: The attorney-client privilege is an evidentiary privilege [which] provides limited protection to communications from the client by prohibiting their unauthorized disclosure in judicial proceedings. (Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct R. 1.6, at 90 (2d ed. 1992).) The privilege is recognized as one of the oldest of the privileges for confidential communications known to the common law. ( Upjohn Co. v. United States (1981), 449 U.S. 383, 389, 101 S.Ct. 677, 682, 66 L.Ed.2d 584, 591; see generally Hazard, An Historical Perspective on the Attorney-Client Privilege, 66 Calif.L.Rev. 1061 (1978).) The purpose of this privilege is to enable a person to consult freely and openly with an attorney without any fear of compelled disclosure of the information communicated. ( Consolidation Coal Co. v. Bucyrus-Erie Co. (1982), 89 Ill.2d 103, 117-18, 59 Ill.Dec. 666, 432 N.E.2d 250; People v. Adam (1972), 51 Ill.2d 46, 48, 280 N.E.2d 205.) The privilege has been described as being essential to the proper functioning of our adversary system of justice. ( United States v. Zolin (1989), 491 U.S. 554, 562, 109 S.Ct. 2619, 2626, 105 L.Ed.2d 469, 485.) It is well established that the privilege belongs to the client, rather than the attorney, although the attorney asserts the privilege on behalf of his client. Thus, only the client may waive this privilege. See People v. Ryan (1964), 30 Ill.2d 456, 197 N.E.2d 15. A major exception to the attorney-client privilege exists, however, and that is the crime-fraud exception, which applies when a client seeks or obtains the services of an attorney in furtherance of criminal or fraudulent activity. ( People v. Wurbs (1976), 38 Ill.App.3d 360, 364, 347 N.E.2d 879; Lanum v. Patterson (1909), 151 Ill. App. 36, 38.) The rationale for this exception is that in seeking legal counsel to further a crime or fraud, the client does not seek advice from an attorney in his professional capacity. As stated in State v. Phelps (1976), 24 Or.App. 329, 545 P.2d 901: `In order that the rule [of privilege] may apply there must be both professional confidence and professional employment, but if the client has a criminal object in view    one of these elements must necessarily be absent. The client must either conspire with his [counsel] or deceive him. If his criminal object is avowed, the client does not consult his adviser professionally, because it cannot be the [lawyer's] business to further any criminal object. If the client does not avow his object, he reposes no confidence   . The [lawyer's] advice is obtained by a fraud.' ( Phelps, 24 Or.App. at 334-35, 545 P.2d at 904, quoting Queen v. Cox (1884), 14 Q.B. 153, 168.) Thus, where the crime-fraud exception applies, no attorney-client privilege exists whatsoever, and the communication is not privileged. We note, however, that not all discussions between attorneys and their clients about possible illegal activities come within the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege. As our appellate court has noted: `[I]n order to invoke the exception to the privilege, the proponent of the evidence must show that the client, when consulting the attorney, knew or should have known that the intended conduct was unlawful. Good-faith consultations with attorneys by clients who are uncertain about the legal implications of a proposed course of action are entitled to the protection of the privilege, even if that action should later be held improper.' State ex rel. North Pacific Lumber Co. v. Unis (1978), 282 Or. 457, 464, 579 P.2d 1291, 1295. Radiac Abrasives, Inc. v. Diamond Technology, Inc. (1988), 177 Ill.App.3d 628, 635, 126 Ill.Dec. 743, 532 N.E.2d 428.
In addition to the attorney-client privilege, there exists the attorney's rule of confidentiality, which encompasses the attorney-client evidentiary privilege as well as the attorney's fiduciary duty to his client. (See Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct R. 1.6, at 88 (2d ed. 1992).) The rule of confidentiality sets forth what an attorney may, may not, or must ethically reveal about his client. Unlike the evidentiary attorney-client privilege, the rule of confidentiality applies not only during judicial proceedings, but at all times, and to client's secrets, as well as confidences. (Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct R. 1.6, at 86, 90 (2d ed. 1992).) The rationale for this rule is the following: Both the fiduciary relationship existing between lawyer and client and the proper functioning of the legal system require the preservation by the lawyer of confidences and secrets of one who has employed or sought to employ him. A client must feel free to discuss whatever he wishes with his lawyer and a lawyer must be equally free to obtain information beyond that volunteered by his client. A lawyer should be fully informed of all the facts of the matter he is handling in order for his client to obtain the full advantage of our legal system.    The observance of the ethical obligation of a lawyer to hold inviolate the confidences and secrets of his client not only facilitates the full development of facts essential to proper representation of the client but also encourages laymen to seek early legal assistance. Model Code of Professional Responsibility EC 4-1 (1988). This attorney's rule of confidentiality in Illinois was formerly contained in Rule 4-101 of the Code (107 Ill.2d R. 4-101), in effect at the time of the contempt order, and is presently found in Rule 1.6 of the Rules (134 Ill.2d R. 1.6). Rule 4-101 provided in pertinent part: (a) `Confidence' refers to information protected by the attorney-client privilege under applicable law, and `secret' refers to other information gained in the professional relationship that the client has requested be held inviolate or the disclosure of which would be embarrassing to or would likely be detrimental to the client. (b) Except when permitted under Rules 4-101(c) and (d), a lawyer shall not knowingly, during or after termination of the professional relationship to his client, (1) reveal a confidence or secret of his client;