Court Opinion

ID: 9884017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 02:31:19.061133+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:34.417417
License: Public Domain

CONCURRENCE
MAGNUSON, Chief Justice
(concurring).
I write separately to emphasize the narrow scope of our decision today. The parties and the amicus discuss at length the right of an insurer to control the defense of litigation, and to provide counsel to conduct that defense. Nothing in our decision challenges those principles. However, in Pine Island Farmers Coop v. Erstad & Riemer, P.A., 649 N.W.2d 444, 449 (Minn. 2002), we made it clear that a lawyer retained by an insurance company is the lawyer for the insured. Under the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, it is the responsibility of a lawyer to clearly communicate the formation of the attorney-client relationship, including identifying the scope of representation and the basis for any fees charged. See Rule 1.5(b). At the same time, while Rule 1.8(f) allows a lawyer’s compensation to be paid by someone other than the client, the rule requires that the client give her informed consent to such an arrangement, and that the attorney exercise his independent judgment in the scope of representation. Regardless of the right of an insurer to control the defense of a covered claim asserted against an insured, an attorney-client relationship must be established as provided for by the Rules of Professional Conduct. That was simply not done here, and that is the basis for our decision.
Finally, our opinion should not be read to generally endorse discovery depositions of opposing counsel. Much has been written on the reasons courts might constrain efforts to depose the lawyers for parties in litigation. See, e.g., 8A Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Richard L. Marcus, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2102 (2d ed. 1994). We are not asked to address this issue, and do not do so.