Oregon RPC 4.2 governs communications with represented parties. The "no contact" rule is designed to protect clients by channeling most communications through counsel for each side. Although RPC 4.2 is simple on its face, it can be difficult in application. At the same time, it involves situations that lawyers encounter frequently and where they risk sanctions for "guessing wrong."
In this column we’ll look at who you can — and can’t — talk to on the other side. Although the focus is on the litigation context where this arises most frequently, the concepts discussed apply with equal measure outside litigation. We’ll first survey the elements of the "no contact" rule, then turn to its exceptions and conclude with how the rule applies in the corporate context.
Before we do, a note on the relationship between RPC 4.2 and its predecessor, DR 7-104(A)(1), is warranted. Subject to further development of the new rule by the Oregon Supreme Court, the cases applying DR 7-104(A)(1) should still be "good law." In fact, the new Oregon ethics opinions rely heavily on prior decisions under DR 7-104(A)(1) in discussing RPC 4.2.
The Elements
The no contact rule has four primary elements: 1) a lawyer; 2) a
communication; 3) about the subject of the representation and 4) with
a person the lawyer knows to be represented.
A Lawyer. The "lawyer" part is easy. Under its terms, RPC 4.2 applies to both lawyers acting in a representative capacity and lawyers representing themselves. But what about people who work for the lawyer — such as paralegals, secretaries and investigators? And what about our own clients? Clients are not prohibited from contacts with each other during a lawsuit and in fact, often continue to deal with each other on many fronts while disputes are under way. See OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-6. Nonetheless, a lawyer should not "coach" a client for a prohibited "end run" around the other side’s lawyer. See OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-147.
Communication. "Communicate" is not defined specifically in the rule. The safest course is to read this term broadly to include communications that are either oral (both in-person and telephone) or written (both paper and electronic).
Subject Matter of the Representation. RPC 4.2 does not prohibit all communications with the other side. Rather, it prohibits communications "on the subject of the representation" where the party is represented on "that subject." In a litigation setting, the "subject of the representation" will typically mirror the issues in the lawsuit as reflected in the pleadings or positions that the parties have otherwise staked out. See OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-126. For example, asking an opposing party in an automobile accident case during a break in a deposition whether the light was red or green will likely run afoul of the rule. By contrast, exchanging common social pleasantries with an opposing party during a break in a deposition should not.
Person the Lawyer Knows to Be Represented. RPC 4.2 is framed in terms of actual knowledge that a person is represented. Actual knowledge, however, can be implied from the circumstances under RPC 1.0(h).
The Exceptions
There are three exceptions to the "no contact" rule:
permission by opposing counsel, communications that are "authorized
by law" and notices that are required by written contract to be
served directly on the parties.
Permission: RPC 4.2(a). Because the rule is designed to protect clients from overreaching by adverse counsel, permission for direct contact must come from a person’s lawyer rather than from the represented person. The rule does not require permission to be in writing. However, a quick note or e-mail back to the lawyer who has granted permission will protect the contacting lawyer if there are any misunderstandings or disputes later.
Authorized by Law: RPC 4.2(b). Contacts that are expressly permitted by law or court order do not violate the rule. Service of a summons or obtaining documents under public records inspection statutes, for example, fall within the exception. See OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-144 (public records). At the same time, the phrase "authorized by law" is more ambiguous in its application than in its recitation. See generally In re Williams, 314 Or 530, 840 P2d 1280 (1992) (reading the "authorized by law exception" narrowly under RPC 4.2’s analogous predecessor, DR 7-104(A)(1)); OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-144. The safest course is to read this exception narrowly and to rely on permission from opposing counsel instead if direct contact is necessary.
Contractual Notice: RPC 4.2(c). Notices that are required by written agreements to be served directly on parties are permitted as long as the notice is also sent to the other person’s lawyer. Although not a specific part of the exception, the safest course is to transmit the lawyer’s copy at the same time as the required contractual notice to the other person.
The Corporate Context
A key question in applying the "no contact" rule in the
corporate context is: Who is the represented party? Or stated alternatively,
if the corporation is represented, does that representation extend
to its current and former officers and employees?
Oregon has a series of ethics opinions and decisions that have developed some relatively "bright line" distinctions. Legal Ethics Opinion No 2005-80 addresses corporate employees and Legal Ethics Opinion No 2005-152 does the same for governmental employees. Both 2005-80 and 2005-152 set out four categories of employees and then define whether they are "fair game" or "off limits:"
Current Management Employees. Current corporate officers, directors and managers are swept under the entity’s representation and, therefore, are "off limits" outside formal discovery such as depositions. Applying the rule to corporate officers and directors is straightforward. Deciding who is a "manager" for purposes of the rule, however, can be more difficult: 2005-80 notes that it is a fact-specific exercise and depends largely on the duties of the individual in relation to the issues in the litigation. See also OSB Legal Ethics Op No 2005-144. A senior manager of a grocery store chain, for example, would likely be "off limits" even if not an officer of the corporation when the manager had responsibility for negotiating a vegetable supply contract that was the subject of litigation with a grower. The night shift manager for the produce department at one of the company’s stores, by contrast, would likely be "fair game" as long as the litigation did not raise issues within the purview of that person’s responsibilities.
Current Employees Whose Conduct Is at Issue. Current employees whose conduct is at issue are treated as falling within the entity’s representation. Party admissions under Oregon Evidence Code 801(4)(b)(D) include statements by "the party’s agent or servant concerning a matter within the scope of the agency or employment, made during the existence of the relationship(.)" Therefore, an employee whose conduct is attributable to the corporation will fall within the company’s representation. For example, if a company truck driver runs a red light, causes an accident, jumps out of the cab and yells "it’s all my fault," that employee will fall within the company’s representation and will be off limits outside formal discovery.
Current Employees Whose Conduct Is Not at Issue. Current employees whose conduct is not directly at issue are generally "fair game." To return to the truck driver example, let’s add the twist that another company driver was following behind and both witnessed the accident and heard the admission. The second driver would simply be an occurrence witness and would not fall within the company’s representation.
Former Employees. Former employees of all stripes are "fair game" as long as they are not separately represented in the matter by their own counsel. The only caveat is that a contacting lawyer cannot use the interview to invade the former employer’s attorney-client privilege or work product protection. See Brown v. State of Or., Dept. of Corrections, 173 FRD 265, 269 (D Or 1997) (applying former DR 7-104(A)(1) in the entity context).
Summing Up
Potential sanctions for unauthorized contact can include disqualification,
suppression of the evidence obtained and bar discipline. Given those
possible sanctions, coupled with the natural reaction of opposing counsel
upon learning of a perceived "end run" to get to his or her
client, this is definitely an area where discretion is the better part
of valor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark J. Fucile is a partner in the litigation group at Stoel Rives, where
he focuses on legal ethics, products liability and condemnation litigation.
He is a past member of the OSB’s Legal Ethics Committee, is a past chair
of the Washington State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, is a
member of the Idaho State Bar Professionalism & Ethics Section and is
a co-editor of the OSB’s Ethical Oregon Lawyer and the WSBA’s Legal Ethics
Deskbook. He can be reached at (503) 294-9501 or mjfucile@stoel.com.