Does a Client Own the Entire File or Does Attorney Work Product Prevent Disclosure?

Full question:

I have been indicted on 1 charge of prescription fraud, we went to court last month so I could verify who is representing me. The prosecution then gave him a copy of the case file. I asked my attorney if I could get a copy of the case file, he responded-'parts of it you can'. My question is-am I allowed to see the full file or just parts of it and why?

  • Category: Courts
  • Subcategory: Attorneys
  • Date:
  • State: Texas

Answer:

The courts are divided on whether certain materials which are not original documents delivered to the attorney by the client, such as the attorney's notes, may be withheld as attorney work product privileged items. Work product rule is a principle that provides qualified immunity to the work product of an attorney from discovery or other compelled disclosure. The Supreme Court of Texas has ruled in favor of the client in allowing the client to obtain the lawyer's notes and other work product as long ans the attorney's been paid in full and othr conditions don't exist.

For a good discussion on the topic, please see:

http://www.mgovg.com/ethics/9ownfile.htm
http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7mGzl1JOC18A8opXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1am1pZWQ1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA1ZJUDAyMl8xNDQ-/SIG=12lkgl3n9/EXP=1314064435/**http%3a//www.law.uh.edu/libraries/ethics/Opinions/501-600/EO570.pdf

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Prescription fraud can be prosecuted as a federal offense if it involves interstate commerce or federal programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Generally, state laws govern prescription fraud, but federal authorities may intervene if the case crosses state lines or involves federal regulations. It's important to consult with an attorney to understand how your specific case may be classified.