you locals who know Colo law. Is it correct that conversations either girl may have had with E&N and their agents are not protected and at trial, the prosecution may ask who said what to whom?
Next, did MM1 shoot that alleged turkey with the illegal short rifle!
1. The short answer is that communications from E&N staff to the daughters would not be covered by attorney client privilege.
The attorney client
evidentiary privilege is statutory in Colorado, and very limited (see § 13-90-107. Who may not testify without consent--definitions.)
BBM
" (b) An attorney shall not be examined without the consent of his client as to
any communication made by the client to him or his advice given thereon in the course of professional employment; nor shall an attorney's secretary, paralegal, legal assistant, stenographer, or clerk be examined without the consent of his employer concerning any fact, the knowledge of which he has acquired in such capacity."
IMO, this privilege would not apply to conversations between the daughters and BM's attorneys.
Lawyers in Colorado are bound by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, including
Rule 1.6 Confidentiality of Information. This is broader than the evidentiary privilege, but still does not cover conversations with individuals who are not in an attorney-client relationship with E&N. (BBM):
"Client-lawyer Relationship
As amended through Rule Change 2021(3), effective March 29, 2021
(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation, or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b).
(b) A lawyer may reveal information relating to the representation of a client to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary:
(1) to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm;
(2) to reveal the client's intention to commit a crime and the information necessary to prevent the crime;
(3) to prevent the client from committing a fraud that is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another and in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the lawyer's services;
(4) to prevent, mitigate or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result or has resulted from the client's commission of a crime or fraud in furtherance of which the client has used the lawyer's services;
(5) to secure legal advice about the lawyer's compliance with these Rules, other law or a court order;
(6) to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the lawyer and the client, to establish a defense to a criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer based upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of the client;
(7) to detect and resolve conflicts of interest arising from the lawyer's change of employment or from changes in the composition or ownership of a firm, but only if the revealed information is not protected by the attorney-client privilege and its revelation is not reasonably likely to otherwise materially prejudice the client; or
(8)
to comply with other law or a court order.
(c) A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client."
Here's an explanation of the reason for the differences, and the confusion that often results, from the Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Regulation:
"A mistake we see again and again in this office is that lawyers confuse their obligation of confidentiality under Rule 1.6 with the separate evidentiary attorney-client privilege. In motions to withdraw, in emails to third-parties, in casual conversations, or in responding to online reviews, lawyers get in trouble because they do not understand that Rule 1.6 is much broader that the attorney-client privilege.
Misconception Number One. There is no exception for information in public records. See Colorado Formal Ethics Opinion 130 (approved April 3, 2017). Maybe no other single misconception brings more calls to our office related to confidentiality. Just because something is in the public record does not mean that it fits within an exception to Rule 1.6.
Misconception Number Two. Even if information has been reported in the media, a lawyer may not disclose it. Id. There is no media exception under Rule 1.6. The 'generally known' exception for former clients is found under Rule 1.9(C)(1) and is not the same. A lawyer is obligated to not reveal information relating to the representation of a client except as permitted by Rule 1.6.
These misconceptions seem to come from a misunderstanding that Rule 1.6 is the same as the evidentiary privilege.
The attorney-client privilege is an evidentiary privilege and refers to what an attorney may not testify to without the client’s consent. C.R.S. § 13-90-107(1)(b). That includes communications made by the client to the attorney or the attorney’s advice to the client in the course of his professional employment. An attorney’s obligation of confidentiality under Rule 1.6 extends far further.
The rule of confidentiality applies 'not only to matters communicated in confidence by the client, but also to all information relating to the representation, whatever its source.' Rule 1.6, Comment [3] (emphasis added). That is a large category of information and the Rule requires that attorneys not reveal such information except as permitted by the Rule. The exceptions are narrow and a lawyer should be carefully review them when revealing ANY information about a client."
More than you ever wanted to know about attorney client privilege (unless you are nerd like me).
2. I have no idea whether MM1 actually shot a turkey, or if so, what weapon she used. However, as hunters both she and her father would know that
use of any rifle to shoot turkeys in the spring season is illegal.