Court Opinion

ID: 9736782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:06:31.380698+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:54.628993
License: Public Domain

LEVINE, Justice,
specially concurring.
I write specially to express my view that Rule 511, North Dakota Rules of Evidence, in conjunction with Rule 510, North Dakota Rules of Evidence, is sufficient to resolve the issue of the admissibility of Exhibit “N”, the letter inadvertently disclosed by counsel for the Bank. Because the Bank, as holder of the privilege, did not have the opportunity to claim the privilege, it did not waive the privilege. Rule 511, NDREv; 2 J. Weinstein and M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence, Standard 512[02], at 512-4 (1989); see also Explanatory Note to Rule 511, NDREv, quoted in the majority opinion, supra, at page 719.
In my view, case law from federal and state courts is not helpful, illuminating or determinative because of differing statutes, rules or “standards” governing waiver in those jurisdictions. In North Dakota, a lawyer cannot waive the privilege without consent of her client. Id. Under our rules of evidence, the client alone is keeper of the privilege. North Dakota has opted for the sanctity of client control of the privilege and its waiver in contrast with the differing positions of the several authorities cited by the majority. As the explanatory note to Rule 511 of the North Dakota Rules of Evidence explains, confidential attorney/client communications remain privileged, even when that confidentiality is breached, if the breach is committed by someone other than the client without the client’s having an opportunity to claim the privilege.
I agree, therefore, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding Exhibit “N”. I also agree that the judgment of foreclosure should be affirmed.
VANDE WALLE, J., concurs.