Has the lawyer broken the law?

1/22/2006 | Bayou Dittohead

[Bayou Dittohead]

Can any freeper tell me when a lawyer crosses the line from representing his client and participating in his crime? If his client is facing multiple civil actions for fraud and the lawyer seeks to silent would be witnesses through intimidation thus allowing the defendant to continue perpetrating the fraud upon others, has the lawyer broken any laws?

[Panerai]

You are better off by asking this of the local bar association

[Firefigher NC]

Not a lawyer, but I would think if the lawyer is intimidating potential witnesses into silence then yes, he probably is breaking the law. Why do you ask this anyways?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Isn't this in the bar codes?

Lawyer (who is told "Yes, I'm guilty, but get me off") still can't lie/present false evidence to jury?

You can't convict because of attorney client privilege, but the lawyer can't present false statements to the court?

[xsmommy]

to solicit false statements is to suborn perjury and is a crime.

[carlr]

I guess it would depend on what activity you are calling intimidation.

If a lawyer is intimating that some issues a witness might not like will be brought to light,without making a direct threat than it is probably legal,scummy but legal.

Need a little more info.

[hobbes1]

to solicit false statements is to suborn perjury and is a crime.,/i.

Yeah...tell that to Marsha Clark, et al...

[Bayou Dittohead]

Specifically, I had one now former employee contact me in agreement that his employer was perpetrating a fraud upon the franchisees/business opportunity buyers. The lawyers threaten this employee with legal action and the employee then made public statements contrary to those he had put in writing to me.

I tend to agree with your assessment of "scummy", but not illegal. However, if the lawyer's actions help his client to continue to perpetrate the fraud on new victims, then might not the attorney be libel in a civil suit brought by the scams new victims?

[carlr]

My guess,and it is only that as I have no legal qualifications,would be that somehow fraud would have to be established than the lawyer in question would have to be shown to be knowingly guilty of helping to perpetuate that fraud.I think it would again get to a question of what actions the lawyer is taking and the motivation.

Apackof2 legal question ping if it is something covered in your classes

[apackof2]

seeks to silent would be witnesses through intimidation

Not much specific detail but I would say at first glance and by this defintion that the lawyer in question is using unethical practices and could be reported to the bar