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VA LEOs



There is a rule (1.10) that says partners or associates in the same firm may not do anything that is prohibited for a single atty.
So the fact that we are two separate attys provides no protection from any of the language that is applicable to one atty.   That means all language applicable to one atty applies to a firm, as well.

So we must be aware that either of our clients' stories could change, and we must not assume the truth of either.  We can reason by analogy from the Legal Ethics Opinion below that although the posited situation does not now exist, if it changes, the conflict will not have been cured by prior consent.  Note the last sentence.  I recognize that this LEO is not specifically our situation.

Therefore we have to anticipate that what this would require, should that occasion arise, is a withdrawal, which would then cause the client from whom we withdrew to have a cause of action against us with the bar, and in a malpractice suit.  So we assume that risk even on assurances from our clients NOW that they're telling the truth.

1181
3, 24 A lawyer may not represent any of three co-defendants when one of the co-defendants has admitted to a more intimate involvement in the crime, because the other two clients may be called as prosecution witnesses and the lawyer would be placed in the "untenable position of having to cross-examine his clients on the same matter as his defense of the same client, in order to exonerate another client." It is doubtful that consent would cure this problem.  (12/14/1988) 

Just food for thought going forward.


Neal A. Puckett, Esq
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Puckett & Faraj, PC
Washington DC | Virginia
888.970.0005

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