ARTICLE 5: Privileges Flashcards
Rule 501: General Rule
Nothing in these rules shall be deemed to modify, or supersede existing law relating to the privilege of a witness, person, government, state or political subdivision.
Rule 502: Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product; Limitations on Waiver
The following provisions apply, in the circumstances set out, to disclosure of a communication or information covered by the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection.
(a) Disclosure Made in a State Court Proceeding; Scope of a Waiver. When the disclosure is made in a state court proceeding and waives the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection, the waiver extends to an undisclosed communication or information in a state court proceeding only if:
(1) the waiver is intentional;
(2) the disclosed and undisclosed communications or information concern the same subject matter; and
(3) they ought in fairness to be considered together.
(b) Inadvertent Disclosure. When made in a state court proceeding, the disclosure does not operate as a waiver if:
(1) the disclosure is inadvertent;
(2) the holder of the privilege or protection took reasonable steps to prevent disclosure; and
(3) the holder promptly took reasonable steps to rectify the error, including (if applicable) following Minnesota Rule of Civil Procedure 26.02(f)(2).
(c) Controlling Effect of a Court Order. A state court may order that the privilege or protection is not waived by disclosure connected with the litigation pending before the court - in which event the disclosure is also not a waiver in any other state court proceeding.
(d)Controlling Effect of a Party Agreement. An agreement on the effect of disclosure in a state proceeding is binding only on the parties to the agreement, unless it is incorporated into a court order.
(e) Definitions. In this rule:
(1) “attorney-client privilege” means the protection that applicable law provides for confidential attorney-client communications; and
(2) “work-product protection” means the protection that applicable law provides for tangible material (or its intangible equivalent) prepared in anticipation of litigation or for trial.
