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Reel Ethics: An Analysis of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct in the Movies

Jefery A. Styres

Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company

P.O. Box 78

Jackon, MS 39205

(601) 981-7422

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Rl Ehic: An Analysis o the Model Rules o Proessional Conduct in the Movies ❖ S ❖ 149


I. Inoducion ...............................................................................................................................................151II. Ac I: T’ a Raon I’ h Fi Rul ..................................................................................................151

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................151

B. Iu Pnd ...................................................................................................................................152

C. Ehic Rul Implicad .......................................................................................................................152

D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................152

III. Ac II: Appopia o Inappopia Win Ppaaion? ....................................................................153

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................153

B. Iu Pnd ..................................................................................................................................154

C. Ehic Rul Implicad ......................................................................................................................154

D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................155IV. Ac III: Ppaing h Win o ial ....................................................................................................156

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................156

B. Iu Pnd ..................................................................................................................................157


D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................157

V. Ac IV: Daling wih Unpnd Pon ...........................................................................................157

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................158

B. Iu Pnd ..................................................................................................................................158


D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................159

VI. Ac V: T Bo Mad M Do I ................................................................................................................160

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................160

B. Iu Pnd ..................................................................................................................................161


D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................162

VII. Ac VI: Wha T Don’ ach You in Law School Will G You Hu ..................................................163

A. Backgound .........................................................................................................................................163

B. Iu Pnd ...................................................................................................................................164


D. Anali ...............................................................................................................................................164

VIII. Concluion ..................................................................................................................................................165

Table of Contents

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I. Introduction

In hi on-hou coninuing lgal ducaion mina on lgal hic and poional ponibili,

paicipan will viw bi cn om lgal-hmd movi aiing vaiou hical iu. Paicipan will b

akd o idni, analz and k o olv h hical ul aid in ach movi clip vi-à-vi h ABA Modl

Rul o Poional Conduc (“Modl Rul” o “MRPC”), ca law and/o ul ha ma b applicabl o ach

paicipan’ juidicion. Viw will alo b challngd o go bond h moal minimum quid b h

Modl Rul and c upon hi own ponal hic in h hpohical cnaio pnd.

T goal o hi poion o h mina a o:

1) Elva h iu idnicaion kill o and in h aa o hic and poional poni-

bili wih iuaion ha aon ma ouinl ac;

2) nhanc and’ knowldg o h ul o hic and poional ponibili b appling

h Modl Rul o paicula ac and iu acing aon oda; and3) xpo quion and iu in lgal hic in a caiv, ining and hough-povoking man-

n ha i hopull njoabl o h paicipan and ncouag uh ud and cion.

II. Act I: There’s a Reason It’s the First Rule

“T I Tink I Can Handl I Scn” om My Cousin Vinny

(© 2000 wnih Cnu Fox Film Cop.)

A. Background

Whil on a co-coun oad ip duing ping bak, wo ca collg udn (plad b Ralph Macchio and Michll Whild) op a h “Sac-O-Sud” convninc o whil diving hough

ual Alabama. A bing pulld ov o wha h blivd wa upcd hopliing, h wo ouh a

miaknl ad o obbing h convninc o and muding h cahi. Luckil, a hi “on phon

call” o hi moh in Nw Yok, on o h collg udn lan ha h ha a law in h amil – Vincn

LaGuadia Gambini, a.k.a. “Couin Vinn” (plad b Jo Pci), a om Bookln auo mchanic who ha

padl unkd h ba xam and ha nv ouchd oo in a couoom, much l in h ouh.

A diving all nigh wih hi lah-clad gilind (plad b Maia omi) om Bookln o

cional Bchum Coun, Alabama, Vinn lan ha h “wo u” hav bn chagd wih capial mud

and poibl ac h dah pnal i convicd. Having cnl pad h ba xam on h ixh , Vinn

ha no xpinc in ciminal law, much l an lgal xpinc wih a ca holding uch poniall gavconqunc o hi clin. A oon a h oo in Alabama, von i upiciou o Vinn’ compnc

a an aon a h ha no ida how o d o cou, much l how o n a pla a h plimina ha-

ing on bhal o hi clin. Paul Bgman and Michal Aimow, Reel Justice – Te Courtroom Goes to the Mov-

ies, p.109 (Andw McNl Publihing 2006).

My Cousin Vinny ca humo bad upon Vinn’ vaiou pocdual mip, lack o couoom

undamnal and hi mannim ha ik h gnl bu no-nonn ial judg (plad b Fd Gwnn).

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152 ❖ Womn in h Law ❖ Mach 2013

A h lm pog, Vinn com hough a cunch im a hi -avv advocac kill mak up o

hi inxpinc in ciminal law. Nonhl, om a lgal hic ppciv, h bginning o h lm call

ino quion whh Vinn i compn o pn hi clin in uch a pocding, pciall in uch a

“oign juidicion.”

B. Issue Presented

Should an aon undak pnaion whn h law know ha h/h lack h quii

knowldg and kill applicabl o a paicula ma and/o h law lack aining and xpinc in h

ld in quion?

C. Ethics Rule Implicated

MRPC 1.1: A law hall povid compn pnaion o a clin. Compn pna-

ion qui h lgal knowldg, kill, hooughn and ppaaion aonabl nca o

h pnaion.

D. Analysis

T Modl Rul, MRPC 1.1, qui compnc a h da o h Modl Rul blivdha compnc i h oundaion upon which all oh hical ul a bad. Ronald D. Rounda & John

S. Dzinkowki, Legal Ethics – Te Lawyer’s Deskbook on Proessional Responsibility, p. 81 (T Amican Ba

Aociaion, 2006-2007). Clal, h i a aon ha h ul o hic and poional ponibili bgin

wih compnc a the rst quimn.

Much o whh a law i compn i bad upon a numb o aco conaind in h Commn

o MRPC 1.1. In dmining whh a law po h quii knowldg and kill in a paicula

ma, lvan aco includ:

• T laiv complxi and pcializd nau o h ma;

• h law’ gnal xpinc;

• h law’ aining and xpinc in h ld in quion;

• h ppaaion and ud h law i abl o giv h ma; and

• whh i i aibl o h ma o, o aocia o conul wih, a law o ablihd

compnc in h ld in quion.

See Commn, MRPC 1.1.

T Commn o MRPC 1.1 i alo cla ha “A law nd no ncail hav pcial aining

o pio xpinc o handl lgal poblm o a p wih which h law i unamilia. A nwl admi-

d law can b a compn a a paciion wih long xpinc.” Id . T Commn go on o a ha

“Phap h mo undamnal lgal kill coni o dmining wha kind o lgal poblm a iuaion ma

involv, a kill ha ncail ancnd an paicula pcializd knowldg. A law can povid ad-qua pnaion in a wholl novl ld hough nca ud.” Id .

Modl Rul 1.1 i alo cla ha a law nd no ncail b experienced in a paicula ma in

od o b conidd competent in ha ma. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 82. T Modl Rul c-

ogniz ha h ha o b a “ im o vhing,” ohwi a law would nv b abl gain an iniial

xpinc.

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Compnc, in and o il, alo i no a pquii o accping pnaion in h paicula

ma. T Modl Rul allow o h aon o accp h pnaion and hn acqui h nca

compnc. Howv, h i on cava o king o gain compnc in a cain aa a pnaion

commnc. Accoding o ABA Modl Cod o Poional Rponibili EC 6-3, uch ppaaion canno

ul in “unaonabl dla o xpn o [h] clin.” Ti cava i alo adopd in h Modl Rul b -

ncing ha h law’ ppaaion mu b aonabl. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 82. See also Rul

1.1, Commn 4.

Whn a law do no hav h kill odinail quid o wh al o, aociaion o conul-

aion wih anoh law would b impacical, i i pmiibl o a law o giv advic o aianc in

mgnc iuaion. Howv, vn in an mgnc, aianc hould b limid o wha would b aon-

abl nca und h cicumanc inc “ill-conidd acion und mgnc condiion can jop-

adiz h clin’ in.” MRPC 1.1, Commn 3. Addiionall, inappopia advic givn in an mgnc

iuaion could alo ul in malpacic xpou hould i bach h andad o ca xpcd b an ao-

n in uch an mgnc iuaion.

A a a compnc i concnd, quii amiliai wih wll-ld pincipl alo xnd o

pocdual ma. See Matter o Gallegos, 723 P.2d 967 (N.M. 1986) (law did no appl o upda

bond o poc pop duing appal, lling judg h “all had no ida how o pocd”). A law i alo

xpcd o know h cou ul wihin h juidicion h pacic. See In re Dempsey, 632 F. Supp. 908 (N.D.

Cal. 1986)(law no amilia wih dal ial pacic aild o noic moion in accodanc wih local ul,

ampd o iu ubpona impopl, and coninl mad impop o uninlligibl objcion).

A a nal wod o cauion gading compnc, hocoming wih hi quimn, pciall in

h aa o ciminal law, can giv i o claim o inciv aianc o counl und h Sixh Amnd-

mn, see McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759 (1970)(du poc conmpla civ aianc o com-

pn counl) and/o ancion o violaion o cou ul. See In re Alexander , 513 A.2d 781 (D.C. 1986)

(law diciplind o daing “ioul dciv” complain ha violad Fdal Rul o Civil Pocdu).

In concluion on hi cn, h law cogniz ha clin can waiv a lo o igh, bu pmiing

h clin o waiv h law’ du o compnc i no on o hm. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 84.See also Rul 1.2, Commn 5. Ti icion i nauall linkd o h pohibiion on h aon’ abili o

duc hi ponal malpacic xpou bad upon om o o agmn wih h clin. See ABA Modl

Cod o Poional Rponibili DR 6-102(A). I in h amn o h law h do no bliv ha

h po h compnc h ma qui and/o canno gain h compnc ndd hough ud

and ppaaion (ha do no ohwi ul in unaonabl dla o xpn o h clin), h aon i

likl b o dclining h pnaion, o a la aociaing wih a paciion who h law know

po h compnc ha h ma qui.

III. Act II: Appropriate or Inappropriate Witness Preparation?

“T Lcu Scn”

Fom Anatomy o a Murder (©1959 Columbia Picu Cop.)

A. Background

Rlad in 1959 and nominad o vn Acadm Awad®, Anatomy o a Murder wa adapd

om h 1958 novl b John D. Volk (und h pudonm o Rob av). Volk, a id aoci-

a juic o h Michigan Supm Cou, pupodl bad Anatomy o a Murder on a 1952 mud ca

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whin Volk vd a dn counl o Liunan Pon, who wa chagd in h aal hooing o

Mauic Chnowh, a avn own. Pon wa ound no guil b aon o inani. Paul Bgman and

Michal Aimow. Rl Juic – Te Courtroom Goes to the Movies, 67 (Andw McNl Publihing 2006).

Boh h novl and h movi cn on h mall own mud ial o U.S. Am liunan Manion

(plad b Bn Gazzaa). Manion i chagd wih muding Ban Quill, who ownd h Tund Ba Inn.

T pocuion connd ha Manion dlibal killd Quill in a jalou ag in h Tund Ba Inn av-

n a Manion upcd ha hi wi and Quill w having an aai.

Bigh bu laz dn aon Paul Bigl (plad b Jimm Swa) would ah b hing

han pacicing law, bu will ak an occaional ca in od o kp h doo o hi ohwi uggling law

pacic opn. A Manion i ad o muding Quill, Bigl civ a call om Manion’ wi (plad

b L Rmick) inquiing i Bigl would go o h jailhou and pn h huband. Iniiall, Bigl i

unu i h vn wan o accp Manion’ ca, which Bigl upc i indnibl bo conuling wih

Manion.

T i no dipu ha Manion ho Quill, which wa wind b val paon in h ba. Addi-

ionall, h hooing ak plac omim a Manion’ wi inom h huband ha Quill apd h –

nough im o in ha h killing wa no don in h ha o paion, bu wih dlibaion on Manion’

pa, hu oding an dn o iiibl impul o mpoa inani.Whn Bigl go o h jailhou o con wih Manion, Manion pov o b a poblm clin.

Manion alo pn an hical hudl o Bigl in ha Manion u o ll Bigl wha happnd unl

Bigl ll him how h law migh appl o hi ca. Id .

T jailhou cn whin Bigl dicu h ac (and poibl dn) wih Manion o h

im, which om o a “T Lcu,” ai poound hical iu. In hi cn, Bigl vn go

uh o kp hi clin advid a o h dn ha migh b applicabl – dpnding upon whh Man-

ion ih mmb (o abica) h ac uppoing ho dn. Id.

B. Issues Presented

1) How a ma an aon go in ugging a poibl dn o a clin beore h aon lano h ac ha ma b applicabl o h clin’ ca?

2) Do inoming h clin o h law in advanc o haing h ac allow h clin o hap hi

o o “ h law” unhical and/o poibl ubjc h aon o uboning pju?

3) I i hical o an aon o dicu poibl dn bo aking h clin hi vion o

h ac?

C. Ethics Rules Implicated

A dmonad in “h lcu” cn, a n lin xi bwn adviing a clin abou h law a

i migh appl o hi ca, which i pop, and uboning pju b aiing h clin o ca al i-

mon, which i impop.

T ABA’ Modl Rul o Poional Conduc (“MRCP”) a:

MRCP 3.4(b): A law hall no ali vidnc, counl o ai a win o i all, o

o an inducmn ha i pohibid b law; [and]

MRCP 3.3(a)(3): A law hall no knowingl o vidnc ha h law know o b al.

I a law, h law’ clin, o a win calld b h law, ha od maial vidnc

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and com o know o i ali, h law hall ak aonabl mdial mau, including i

nca, diclou o h ibunal ….

See also MRCP 8.4 on h gnal pohibiion o a law o ngag in ciminal, dihon o oh conduc

ha i pjudicial o h adminiaion o juic.

D. Analysis

I i pcl hical (i no obligao) o counl o inviw h clin and dicu hi imon in od o ai h clin o i civl. Ti would b u o an win h aon alo pak

wih o i on h clin’ bhal. I i alo appopia o advi h clin a o wha h law i, vn i uch

advic ugg a dn ha h clin migh no hav bn awa o. T poblm i ha an aon can

conv an unpokn mag o a win ha al h win’ imon – wihou v coming ou and

acuall lling h win. Bgman & Aimow, supra, p. 66.

A concluding “h lcu,” Bigl do no ak Manion hi collcion o h vn, bu ah

ak Manion, “Wha’ ou xcu o killing Quill?” – ugging ha Manion mu hav on. Whn Man-

ion ak whh h i ging “wam” whn h aid h “mu hav bn mad,” Bigl ul mu aliz

ha hi clin i no lling h uh. Bigl i obvioul awa o h limi on win coaching, bu kp

Manion guing unil Manion a “I mu hav bn mad.” Bigl hn pau bo laving h oom andpli, “In h manim, i ou can mmb ju how caz ou w.” To, Manion com up

wih h dn o mpoa inani, albi du o om gnl podding om h aon, laving Manion

o ih mmb o abica h ac ha uppo ha dn. Bgman & Aimow, supra, p. 66.

Mo aon would ag ha a long a h clin com up wih h ac uppoing h dn,

no hical violaion ha occud. Nonhl, accoding o a la on commna, “Ti i an xampl o

wha law a no uppod o do.” Ronald D. Rounda & John S. Dzinkowki, Legal Ethics – Te Lawyer’s

Deskbook on Proessional Responsibility, 747 (T Amican Ba Aociaion, 2006-2007).

In Bigl’ dn, how could an aon in hi poiion b uboning pju o adviing h

win o i all i h do no know h ac o do no po an knowldg ha hi clin

innd o pju himl a ial? Convl, i m unlikl ha Manion’ imon would hav bn ham i Bigl had no “lcud” him. A dp hical quagmi migh b pn i ha w Bigl’

innion all along in adviing hi clin – bu how could uch a violaion b povn?

In on o h w opinion adding h luiv diincion bwn appopia win ppaa-

ion and inappopia win coaching, on cou ha commnd on h diincion whn ppaing a wi-

n i din han caing imon. A nod in State v. McCormick, 259 S.E.2d 880, 882 (N.C. 1979):

I i no impop o an aon o ppa hi win o ial, o xplain h applicabl

law in an givn iuaion and o go ov bo h ial h aon’ quion and h wi-

n’ anw o ha h win will b ad o hi appaanc in cou, will b mo a a

bcau h know wha o xpc, and will giv hi imon in h mo civ mann ha

h can. Such ppaaion i h mak o a good ial law, and i i o b commndd bcau ipomod a mo cin adminiaion o juic and av cou im.

Evn hough a win ha bn ppad in hi mann, hi imon a ial i ill hi volun-

a imon. Nohing impop ha occud o long a h aon i ppaing h win

o giv h win’ imon a ial and no h imon ha h aon ha placd in h

win’ mouh and no al o pjud imon.

See also Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 747, innal ciaion omid.

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Aon would all ho in pning hi clin i h did no inviw applicabl win

and ppa hi clin o ial, bu law ma no “ugg” ha a clin o win i all. Restate-

ment o Law Governing Lawyers, Tid, §116(1)(Ocial Da 2000). Noabl, wha coniu “ugging”

imon i no clal dnd and will b highl ubjciv and ac-pcic bad upon h p o i-

mon bing pod. Howv, i h uggion i baznl mad, h law is uboning pju. See Har-

lan v. Lewis, 982 F.2d 1255, 1257 (8h Ci. (Ak.) 1993), cert. denied , 510 U.S. 828 (1993), whin h Eighh

Cicui uld ha a dn law in a mdical malpacic ca “violad Rul 3.4 b ‘ugging’ o anoh

aing phician ha, alhough h alo could b ud b h plaini, ha ui would b unuccul i h

did no i.” Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 746.

So wh xacl i h lin bwn pmiibl win ppaaion and inappopia coaching?

Accoding o Rounda & Dzinkowki’ Lgal Ehic – Te Lawyer’s Deskbook on Proessional Responsibility:

Caul ial law mu nd ou i h win i giving hi own imon o ml pa-

ing wha a law old him o a. I h win’ imon appa o hav bn mmoizd o

had o i i appa ha h win i iing uing h law’ wod ah han hi

own, o had bn impopl coachd, uch ma hould b xplod on co-xaminaion.

T ju hn dcid wha wigh o b givn o h win’ imon.

Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 747, citing State v. McCormick, 259 S.E.2d 880 (N.C. 1979); Modl Cod o Poional Rponibili DR 7-102.

Aguabl, an aon i nild o ac a i h did no know ha h clin innd o commi p-

ju and ca law adqual pcib wha acion hould b akn i h bliv ha h clin innd o

do o. See Nix v. Whiteside, 475 U.S. 157 (1986). Howv, a long a h aon coninu o pn h

clin, violaion o hic ul along h lin would b dicul o pov inc convaion bwn ao-

n and hi clin a on in piva and i dicovd, objcion bad upon aon-clin pivilg

will mo cainl b ad.

Ehic xp mainain ha h aon’ pima aim i “uh b advocac” and h judicial -

m will b pocd om aud and pju b h civ woking o h adva m. H, Bigl

inom Manion ju nough o ai hi clin and pobabl avoid a chag o unhical conduc. Ipcivo whh o no h ul o poional conduc w violad, Anatomy o a Murder , alhough lmd in

black and whi mo han (50) a ago, imll dpic ha had o ga will alwa xi bwn

appopia win ppaaion and inappopia coaching.

IV. Act III: Preparing the Witness for Trial

“T Woodhd Scn” om Te Verdict

(©1982 wnih Cnu Fox Film Cop.)

A. Background

In Te Verdict , bad upon h 1980 novl b Ba Rd, down-and-ou aon Fank Galvin

(plad b Paul Nwman) ha pn o much im a h “wong kind o ba” ha hi law pacic ha dwin-

dld down o a ingl ca. Galvin pn a woman who wa admid o h hopial o giv bih and

wound up in a pmannl vgaiv a, du o h nglignc o h anhiologi. Galvin, known

o olling o popciv clin in unal palo, do no xp much in in h ca unil hol

bo ial, and ali in h movi, violad wo ul o hic [MRCP 1.4(a)(3) and MRCP 1.4(b)] b ail-

ing o communica a lmn o o h clin (h i o h injud pain).

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In ak cona o Galvin’ lackadaiical appoach o h ca, h hopial and anhiologi

innd on pning an ionclad dn. In ppaing h dndan anhiologi o ial, h dn

law, Ed Concannon (plad b Jam Maon) ak h win o “h woodhd” b haing h an-

hiologi’ dic xaminaion in a law m connc oom and o h win uggion a o how o

giv mo puaiv imon a ial.

B. Issues Presented

1) Do h dn law co h lin bwn hical and unhical ppaaion o a win b

dicaing how h anhiologi hould pond o quion on dic xaminaion?

2) Ha anhing h dn law uggd in ppaaion ignicanl o maiall chang

wha h win’ imon ohwi would b?


Compa “h woodhd cn” in Te Verdict o “h lcu cn” in Anatomy o a Murder . T

applicabl hic ul a h am:

MRCP 3.4(b): A law hall no ali vidnc, counl o ai a win o i all, o

o an inducmn ha i pohibid b law; [and]MRCP 3.3(a)(3): A law hall no knowingl o vidnc ha h law know o b al.

I a law, h law’ clin, o a win calld b h law, ha od maial vidnc

and com o know o i ali, h law hall ak aonabl mdial mau, including i

nca, diclou o h ibunal ….

D. Analysis

Such haal a pop o long a aon do no chang h ubanc o h win’ imon.

A law can hicall viw, hap and vn o uggion gading a win’ imon o dmano,

bu canno ovl o covl induc h win o i all. In aking h doco o “h woodhd,” h

dn aon’ ppaaion o h win ai h anhiologi o i mo clal and convinc-ingl – bu do no al h ubanc o hi imon.

Accoding o poo Michal Aimow and D. Shannon Mad in hi xbook Law and Popular

Culture,

Ti o o ppaaion nabl h win o pn imon clal and ocull, in a wa

ha h ju can undand and bliv. Howv, i i impop o cau h win o i

o omhing ubanivl din om wha h win would ohwi hav aid. Som-

im vn a ubl uggion b h law can inunc h win o i in a wa ha h

o h migh no hav don.

Michal Aimow & Shannon Mad, Law and Popular Culture: A Course Book, p. 59 (P Lang 2004). See

also State v. McCormick, 259 S.E.2d 880 (N.C. 1979)(A law ma coach a win pio o ial o long a h

law i ppaing h win gading h win’ own imon and i no ugging wha h win

hould a o ha h win hould giv pjud imon).

V. Act IV: Dealing with Unrepresented Persons

“T FBI Scn” om Te Client

(©1994 Wan Bo.)

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A. Background

In h movi bad upon John Giham’ ouh novl, Te Client , a oung bo (plad b Bad Rn-

o) win h dah o a law who commid uicid bcau h knw wh hi mob clin had bu-

id h bod o a U.S. nao ha had bn kidnappd and killd. Bo h commid uicid, h law

old h oung bo wh h nao’ bod wa locad, which ul in h bo bcoming a ag o h

mob – a wll a a ponial a win o h FBI and h U.S. Aon’ oc. In hi a and dpaion,

h oung bo ain a law, Rggi Lov (plad b Suan Saandon) o $1.00.In “h FBI cn,” FBI agn and govnmn law (plad b omm L Jon, .J. Walh and

Anhon Hald) m wih h bo ouid h pnc o hi moh and puad h bo o ll hm

wh h mob law aid h nao’ bod wa buid. T govnmn’ law o ighn h bo

ino alking b lling him ha h and hi moh could b jaild i h do no coopa. T alo ll him

padl ha h do no nd o hav an aon pn a h alk wih hm.

B. Issues Presented

1) I anon comoabl wih h “hal-uh” h govnmn law old o h bo’ aon

abou whh o no anhing wa aid o h clin abou h nd o lgal counl bing pn?

2) In ligh o h bo’ quion, and h ac ha h wa a mino, hould h govnmn lawhav known ha h bo miundood hi ol? Should h govnmn law hav akn

p o avoid ha poibili?

3) Wa i hical o h govnmn law o ugg o allow h bo o bliv ha h and/

o hi moh would b jaild i h did no ll hm wha h knw? A h hical obligaion

owd o a child din han ho owd o an adul in hi pc?

4) Should h govnmn law hav akd h bo i h wa pnd b counl beore h

quiond him? Evn i hic ul did no qui i, would aking h bo i h had an ao-

n (o would lik o hav an aon) bo quioning him hav bn h igh hing o do?


MRPC 4.1(a): In h cou o pning a clin a law hall no knowingl mak a al

amn o maial ac o law o a hid pon ….

MRPC 4.2: In pning a clin, a law hall no communica abou h ubjc o h p-

naion wih a pon h law know o b pnd b anoh law in h ma,

unl h law ha h conn o h oh law o i auhoizd o do o b law o a cou

od.

MRPC 4.3: In daling on bhal o a clin wih a pon who i no pnd b counl, a

law hall no a o impl ha h law i diind. Whn h law know o a-

onabl hould know ha h unpnd pon miundand h law’ ol in h ma-, h law hall mak aonabl o o coc h miundanding. T law hall

no giv lgal advic o an unpnd pon, oh han h advic o cu counl, i h

law know o aonabl hould know ha h in o uch a pon a o hav a aon-

abl poibili o bing in conic wih h in o h clin.

MRPC 4.4(a): In pning a clin, a law hall no u man ha hav no ubanial

pupo oh han o mbaa, dla o budn a pon, o u mhod o obaining vi-

dnc ha viola h lgal igh o uch a pon.

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D. Analysis

Whn daling wih oh on a clin’ bhal, a law i quid o b uhul, bu gnall ha

no amaiv du o inom an oppoing pa o lvan ac. Howv, a mipnaion occu i h

law incopoa o am a amn o anoh pon ha h law know i al. Rgadl a o

whh h pon h law mak h amn o i pnd b counl, i i an indpndn violaion

o h MRPC o mak an inaccua o milading amn o pon oh han h law’ own clin. See

MRPC 4.1 (Fo mipnaion o ac o a cou, see MRPC 3.3: Cando owad h ibunal).Mipnaion can alo occu b ailu o ac o ohwi amlioa wha h law know

o b milading o al amn. Annotated Model Rules o Proessional Conduct , 2d d., 415 (ABA P

1983). Rul 4.1(a) pohibi law om knowingl making al o milading amn and ma alo vio-

la Rul 4.1 i h law o, incopoa, o am h amn o anoh pon, uch a h clin,

ha h law know o b al. “T law canno avoid ponibili b uhull aing ha anoh

pon mad a amn whn h law know ha h oh amn i al.” Rounda & Dzinkowki,

supra, a 812. Rounda & Dzinkowki alo o hi wod o cauion gading Rul 4.1:

Law hould alo b caul no o mak amaiv pnaion whn h in ac do no

know i ho amn a accua o no. Alhough a amn mad in ckl digad o

h uh o nglignl b a law ma no viola Rul 4.1, uch amn ma xpo a law- o civil liabili o a hid pon.

Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 813.

Alhough in “h FBI cn” h wa no vidnc ha h govnmn law knw ha h oung

bo wa pnd b counl bo quioning him, Rul 4.2 i h adiional pohibiion again com-

municaing wih a pon known o b pnd b counl wihou h oh law’ conn. T pu-

po o hi ul i o pvn law om aking advanag o uncounld la pon and o pv h

ingi o h aon-clin laionhip. Annotated Model Rules o Proessional Conduct , 2 d., 424 (ABA

P 1983). T quimn o obaining conn “cov an pon,” whh o no a pa o a omal

pocding, who i pnd b counl concning h ma in quion.” MRPC 4.2, Commn 2. Mo-

ov, Rul 4.2 i inndd o govn no onl civil bu alo ciminal ca. MRPC 4.2, Commn 5.

In om inanc, communicaion wih a pnd pa ma ul in an hical violaion vn

hough i wa uninnional. Annoad Modl Rul o Poional Conduc, 2d d., 425 (ABA P 1983),

citing Carter v. Kamaras, 430 A.2d 1058 (R.I. 1981)(immaial whh dic conac wa innional o ng-

lign violaion); In re McCafrey, 549 P.2d 666 (O. 1976)(immaial whh communicaion i nglign o

innional). Howv, i h law do no know ha h pon i pnd b counl, hn Rul 4.3

appli.

In daling wih individual who a no pnd b counl, MRPC 4.3 ic h law’ com-

municaion wih unpnd pon:

I a pon i no pnd b counl, h law o h pnd pon ma nih a

no impl ha h law i diind. I h unpnd pon do no undand h

ol, h law hould o coc h miundanding. In h abnc o a miundand-

ing, h Rul, howv, do no amaivl qui ha a law idni ha h i p-

ning a clin. And, h Rul do no qui ha law diclo h idni o h clin o

unpnd pon, alhough law ma do o a a ma o nomal pacic.

Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 858-59, citing ABA Cod o Poional Rponibili DR 7-104(A)(2);

Restatement o the Law Governing Lawyers §103 (Ocial Da 2000).

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Pio o h dvlopmn o Rul 4.3, i had no counpa in h Modl Cod. Modl Cod o Po-

ional Rponibili DR 7-104(A)(2) povidd ha a law hall no “(g)iv advic o a pon who i no

pnd b a law, oh han h advic o cu counl….” Id . To, und h Modl Cod, h

law i no und an amaiv obligaion o coc an miundanding gading h law’ ol in

h ma, auming ha h law ha inomd h hid pa ha h hould k counl.

A Rul 4.3 la o hi paicula cn in Te Client , no h i no diincion in h ul

bwn adul and mino – h Rul u “ persons.” To, an aon aguabl ha a highnd hi-

cal obligaion o au ha whil quioning a pumabl unpnd mino lik in Te Client , ha h

Rul alo conmpla covag o pon who b l ag o immaui would xpcdl hav ga

dicul undanding h law’ ol. On h am okn, a law’ obligaion o ll h uh o a mino

hould b no din o an obligaion o ll h uh o an adul.

T du o pning a clin civl and zaloul alo do no allow an aon o haa

anoh pon o han ciminal chag. T ABA Modl Cod includd a pcic poviion pohibiing a

law om haning o pning “ciminal chag oll o obain an advanag in a civil ma. Modl

Cod o Poional Rponibili DR 7-105(A). Iningl, h Modl Rul do no conain an uch

xp poviion. Howv, hi omiion in h Modl Rul do no man ha h law i o ngag

in uch conduc. I h law’ ha amoun o ciminal xoion und a law, Modl Rul 8.4(b) would

appl, o ha poviion pohibi a law om commiing an ciminal ac ha c advl on hon-

, uwohin o n a a law in all oh pc. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 867 [in-

nal ciaion omid].

A o h u o ap coding conducd wihou h knowldg o a la on o h pai ha a

coding i bing conducd, h Modl Rul hav no pcic poviion pohibiing a law om ngaging

in c ap coding o convaion wih win, oppoing pai, o vn h clin i h cod-

ing a ohwi lgal. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 870. Mo a hic opinion appa o ollow

MRPC 4.4; howv, and hould chck and viw an applicabl hic ul o opinion ha ma appl

in hi pcic juidicion. Ta aid, i h law ngag in c ap coding in violaion o hic

ul, h law i hn ubjc o diciplin [MRPC 8.4], plu h aggivd pa ma u h law in o

i h i violaion o oh law. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, a 871, citing Kimmel v. Goland , 793 P.2d 524,

525 (Cal. 1990)(holding ha an injud pa ma u a law o invaion o pivac bcau o h law’

“illgal coding o condnial lphon convaion.”) O cou, o h xn an upiiou cod-

ing involvd dihon o viola dal o a ani-wiapping au, aon paicipaion would alo

viola MRPC 8.4 (Miconduc).

VI. Act V: The Boss Made Me Do It

“T Dp-Sixing o Dicovabl Documn Scn” om Class Action

(©1991 wnih Cnu Fox)

A. Background

In h movi Class Action, Jddiah Wad (plad b Gn Hackman) i a bah and uccul ial

law pning a goup o cla acion plaini again Ago Moo o nglignl digning ca

ha xplod whn uck b oh vhicl. Luckil, h pigiou law m handling Ago Moo’ dn

mplo Jd’ daugh, Maggi (plad b Ma Elizabh Maanonio), an aocia apidl cloing in

on panhip au. T m’ laionhip pan wih Ago wan Maggi o handl h ca bcau

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h bliv ha Maggi can nualiz h ah inc h’ puld b Jd’ bavado and i immun o h

ah’ lgal pouing. In hop ha h can advanc h own ca, Maggi alo cai on a c aai

wih h upvio and ini in woking on h Ago ca o pov ha h’ a b law han h ah.

Reel Justice – Te Courtroom Goes to the Movies , p. 180 (Andw McNl Publihing 2006).

Maggi bliv ha Ago’ dn i a woh cau unil h uncov a “moking gun” po

dvlopd b on o Ago’ ngin who pvioul wand Ago ha i vhicl could xplod i uck

whil h l un ignal wa ahing. Id ., p.177 (Andw McNl Publihing 2006).

Maggi i no h onl aon involvd wih Ago’ dn wih knowldg o h damaging ngi-

ning po. Maggi’ upviing aon, Michal Gazi (plad b Colin Fil), wa pvioul mad

awa o h po whil h vhicl wa in poducion. Pio o Maggi’ involvmn in h ca, Michal

wokd wih Ago’ in-hou counl (plad b law und aco and om U.S. nao, Fd Tompon)

o minimiz h impac o h ngin’ po and aid in omulaing a lgal ag whin wling

wih h “all ou” om h dciv dign would b pabl o h co o a call and/o making dign

impovmn.

Duing dicov, h plaini pcicall qud nam and conac inomaion o pon

involvd wih digning Ago’ Midian modl, a dia on whl akin o h nooiou Fod Pino™. Know-

ing ha poducion o h ngin’ po would ik a majo blow o dnding h ca a wll a con-inuing o ain Ago a on o h m’ bigg clin, Maggi ak h upviing aon o dicion.

A civing inucion om h upvio which Maggi know do no xacl “qua up” wih h

noion o ai pla and juic h inhid om h ah, Maggi lucanl go along wih h up-

vio’ inucion whin h po will b poducd, bu includd along wih an avalanch o dicov

pon. Addiionall, nc o h ngin’ po i o b milabld in uch a mann whin h

po canno b locad and clal un aoul o dicov ul. All Maggi ha o do i pla along.

Unbknown o Maggi, pio o poducion, h upviing aon acuall dod h po

o ha i will nv b dicovd b h plaini. A h maind o h movi unold, onc Maggi nd

ou ha h upvio dod h ngin’ po, h mak unwi hical choic, om o which

poniall bach h du o loal ha h ow o h clin and undoubdl impac h uu a anaon.

B. Issues Presented

How do hic ul add dicov abu?

2)Wha ponibilii, i an, do a ubodina aon hav whn diciv iud b a

upvio aon un aoul o h ul o poional conduc?


MRPC 3.4: A law hall no

(a) unlawull obuc anoh pa’ acc o vidnc o unlawull al, do o con-

cal a documn o oh maial having ponial vidnia valu. A law hall no

counl o ai anoh pon o do an uch ac;

(d) in pial pocdu, mak a ivolou dicov qu o ail o mak aonabl dilign

o o compl wih a lgall pop dicov qu b an oppoing pa;

() qu a pon oh han a clin o ain om volunail giving lvan inomaion

o anoh pa unl:

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(1) h pon i a laiv o an mplo o oh agn o a clin; and

(2) h law aonabl bliv ha h pon’ in will no b advl acd

b aining om giving uch inomaion.

MRPC 5.2(a): A law i bound b h Rul o Poional Conduc nowihanding ha h

law acd a h dicion o anoh pon.

MRPC 5.2(b): A ubodina law do no viola h Rul o Poional Conduc i ha

law ac in accodanc wih a upvio law’ aonabl oluion o an aguabl qu-ion o poional du.

MRPC 8.3(a): A law who know ha anoh law ha commid a violaion o h Rul o

Poional Conduc ha ai a ubanial quion a o ha law’ hon, uwohin

o n a a law in oh pc, hall inom h appopia poional auhoi.

D. Analysis

An civ adva m conmpla ha vidnc in a ca i o b mahald compiivl

b h connding pai. Fai compiion in h adva m can onl b cud b pohibiion

again ducion o concalmn o vidnc, a wll a oh uch obuciv acic ud in dicov.

MRPC 3.4, Commn 1.

Documn and oh vidnia im poducd a pa o dicov a on nial o ablih

a claim o dn. Subjc o vidnia pivilg, h igh o an oppoing pa o obain vidnc hough

dicov i an impoan pocdual igh. T xci o ha igh can b uad i lvan vidnc i

ald, concald o dod. Annotated Model Rules o Proessional Conduct , 2d d., p. 348-349 (ABA P

1983). A coolla o h gnal pincipl ha a law ma no mipn h ac o h law i h Rul

3.4 quimn ha a law ma no unlawull obuc acc o, al, o concal vidnc, o win,

o ncouag a win o i all. Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 733.

A law who concal documn o oh maial o who pocu uch concalmn viola

Rul 3.4. See, e.g., Matter o Davis, 273 S.E.2d 614 (Ga. 1981)(law counld clin o concal und om

bankupc cou). Likwi, a law’ du o ain o h oppoing pa and counl pohibi a law

om abuing pial dicov pocdu. Whil h ma xi ound aon o ngag in lgiima di-

cov dipu, h a man dicov abu ha do nohing oh han dla a lawui o wok xm

diadvanag o h quing pa. T abu a on

[A]ibud o counl who u dicov o hing xpdiion … who dla complion o

dicov, and who oc undu xpn on oppoing counl b xniv inogaoi, b

qu o poducion o unncail lag numb o documn, and b poducion o

documn in lag, unoganizd lo in pon o inogaoi and poducion qu.

Annotated Model Rules o Proessional Conduct , 2d d., p. 358 (ABA P 1983), quoting Cohn, Federal Discov-

ery: A Survey o Local Rules and Practices in View o Proposed Changes to the Federal Rules, 63 Minn. L. Rv.

253, 255 (1979); see also Roadway Exp., Inc. v. Piper , 447 U.S. 752, 757 n.4 (1980).

Michal’ inucion o Maggi o “dp ix” poducion o h ngin’ hamul po a clal

violaiv o MRPC 3.4. See Compaq Computer Corp v. Ergonome, Inc., 387 F.3d 403 (5h Ci. 2004)($2.8 million

in ancion impod again dndan o abuiv pacic o h ol pupo o uaing Compaq’

abili o xac dicov); Berkey Photo, Inc. v. Eastman Kodak, 603 F.2d 263 (C.A. NY 1979)(law la

hld in conmp o ling abou xinc o documn qud b h oppoiion and aocia who knw

ha h documn xid bu did no po wa d).

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Wha hould Maggi hav don whn h dicovd ha pan in h lawm plannd o do

h ngining po o avoid i om bing poducd? MRPC 5.2(a) i mphaic ha a law i bound b

h ul o hic “nowihanding ha h law acd a h dicion o anoh pon.” Tu, h i no

“ollowing od” dn. T onl xcpion o hi ul i whn a law ac in accodanc wih a upvi-

o law’ “aonabl oluion o an aguabl quion o poional du.” MRPC 5.2(b). “On canno

cap on’ hical dui b ml claiming ha on i onl ollowing od, bu on can cap b ollow-

ing reasonable od.” Rounda & Dzinkowki, supra, p. 897 (mphai upplid).

Whn acd wih inucion om a upvio law ha h ubodina law knows viola

h Rul o Poional Conduc and do no pn a la an aguabl aonabl quion o po-

ional du, i i no nough o a ubodina law o u o compl wih an unhical diciv om a

upvio. T ubodina law i alo bound b MRPC 8.3 o po h upviing aon o an appo-

pia diciplina agnc i h o h know h oh law ha commid a violaion ha ai a “uban-

ial quion a o ha law’ hon, uwohin, o n a a law.” “op n Ehic ap (And

How o Avoid Tm)” ABA Journal , Nov. 2007, p. 33 (conibuion b Kahn A. Tompon) quoting MRPC

8.3. T downid i ha doing hi will inviabl cau h poing aon o lo hi job.

Whn acd wih uch a conundum, ubodina law mu alo conid hi obligaion

owad acd clin p MRPC 1.6. Modl Rul 1.6 pohibi law om valing inomaion unl

clin povid hi conn o h inomaion all wihin an xcpion o h ul allowing o diclou.

Moov, MRPC 8.3 pcicall a ha law a no quid o diclo inomaion ha i ohwi

pocd b MRPC 1.6. Id . Tu, in poing h conduc o a upvio o an diciplina ibunal, h

poing aon mu ak ino accoun wha inomaion, including condnial inomaion gaind om

h clin, mu b vald in od o uppo h diciplina chag. Id . Ti quimn can plac h

poing aon in a “no win” iuaion inc, o pupo o MRPC 1.6; clin conn i gnall quid

bo h inomaion ma b vald. Id .

Aguabl, wha coniu an “aguabl quion o poional ponibili” and “aonabl -

oluion” a ubjc o dba and inpaion; howv, hi much i cla: “Subodina law who a

daggd ino h a whn hi bo un aoul o hic ul canno aum ‘cond chai au’ xcu

hm om poional obligaion.” Id .

VII. Act VI: What They Don’t Teach You in Law School Will Get You Hurt

“T Hopial Soliciaion Scn” om T Rainmak

(©1997 Paamoun Picu)

A. Background

Bad upon h adapaion o John Giham’ novl auing an idaliic aon h ou o law

chool who ak on h ca o a liim, Te Rainmaker ll h o o a uggling hid-a law udn a

h Univi o Mmphi School o Law, namd Rud Balo (plad b Ma Damon). Whn hi popc o

a job a puabl a law m ollowing gaduaion all hough, Rud’ onl opion i o accp a poiion woking

o a law namd “Bui” who alo own h nighclub wh Rud wokd a pa-im hough law chool.

Bad upon hi mplomn aangmn wih Bui, Rud lan quickl ha h mu bing cli-

n o h m in od o uviv. In od o how him how h i xpcd o “dvlop clin,” Bui

inoduc Rud o on o hi aocia – “paalaw” Dck Shif (plad b Dann DVio), who ha

akn h nn ba xam mulipl im bu ha o obain hi licn o pacic.

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Whil Te Rainmaker i pimail known o Rud aking down a halh inuanc compan bad

upon h inu’ bad aih dnial o hi clin’ inuanc claim, al in h lm, Dck duca Rud on

h a o “clin dvlopmn,” pciall whil inducd b nancial mpaion. In addiion o Dck povid-

ing Rud wih a palaabl aional o wha ohwi coniu unhical clin oliciaion, Dck alo giv

Rud a uccinc lon in all h i o know abou lgal hic.

Dck’ xampl ha conomic in pla a ol in poional conduc povid Rud wih a

pacical xampl ha no vhing abou h pacic o law i land in law chool. Whil “a ainmak”

i picall pcivd a an aon who bing in lo o buin, a ouch o ion xi in ha h bigg

ca Rud mo likl will v hav in hi ca i on ha h pickd up hicall whil inning o h

lgal clinic duing law chool.

B. Issue Presented

How do h Modl Rul add in-pon oliciaion o ponial clin?


MRPC 7.3(a): A law hall no b in-pon, liv lphon o al-im lconic conac

olici poional mplomn om a popciv clin whn a ignican moiv o h law-’ doing o i h law’ pcunia gain, unl h pon conacd:

(1) i a law; o

(2) ha a amil, clo ponal, o pio poional laionhip wih h law.

See also MRPC 5.5(b): A law hall no ai a pon who i no a mmb o h ba in h pomanc

o an acivi ha coniu h unauhoizd pacic o law. (1983 Modl Rul vion).

D. Analysis

T inhnl xi a ponial o abu in dic in-pon o liv conac b a law wih a

popciv clin blivd o nd lgal vic. “T popciv clin, who ma alad l ovwhlmd

b h cicumanc giving i o h nd o lgal vic, ma nd i dicul o ull valua all avail-

abl alnaiv wih aond judgmn and appopia l-in in h ac o h law’ pnc and

ininc upon bing aind immdial. T iuaion i augh wih h poibili o undu inunc,

inimidaion, and ovaching.” Annoad Modl Rul o Poional Conduc, 2d d., p. 519 (ABA P

1983).

Dic ponal conac wih popciv clin o olici hi buin ha bn hioicall pohib-

id. See generally Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Ass’n, 436 U.S. 447, 454, reh’g denied , 439 U.S. 883 (1978). T gn-

al pohibiion again oliciaion alo xnd o indic oliciaion hough h law’ u o agn. See

MRPC 8.4(a), pohibiing a law om violaing o amping o viola h Modl Rul hough h ac o

anoh.

T p o oliciaion Dck and Rud ngag in a dpicd in hi cn clal un aoul o h

Modl Rul. I caugh, Rud will hav jopadizd hi lgal ca bo i vn g o h gound. Likwi,

Dck ma nv g o pacic law, gadl o whh o no h i abl o pa h ba xam. A o Dck

“ipping” h hopial cui guad ali in h cn, MRPC 7.2 alo pohibi h pamn o compna-

ion o anon o commnding h aon’ vic. Ti ul pohibi pamn o nu, ambulanc

div, o oh halh ca poional o ing clin o h aon.

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VIII. Conclusion

Hon and ingi a nial aibu quid o v law. Likwi, h Modl Rul o

Poional Conduc alo plac a ubanial pmium upon h knowldg o hic ul and caul appli-

caion o ho quimn b law a a pa o hi dail pacic. Whh all aon uiliz hi

knowldg i hi choic. Aon who mainain dilignc in h aa will no onl xpinc h p-

onal aiacion in mainaining h hono o h lgal poion, bu will alo dicov ha h diciplin

and poionalim mandad b h MRPC povid v aon who adh o h ul a oundaionupon which a ong and wading pacic ma b buil.

Mo movi audinc mmb h “bad aon” mo han h do h hical on. Alhough

aon acing hical ci in h movi ma mak o good ha, o v hical violaion commid

b a “movi law,” h a binding ul, cod, diciplina opinion and poibl vn dibamn ha

likl appli o uch conduc in al li.

Lgal-hmd movi do no alwa povid h b xampl o hical conduc and whh

oda’ lgal movi pn an accua o unai poaal o h lgal m i a opic o anoh da.

Hopull, omda mo lgal-hmd movi will ocu mo on h hical conduc xpcd o aon

a oppod o h incaing poaal o aon who ak advanag o hi clin and/o h lgal -

m o ponal ambiion, hubi o gain. Alhough uch dpicion ma onl ul in “hical violaion,” inman pc uch hical miconduc can appa anamoun o a lapon lik an oh micaiag o

juic, and dnil od h public’ condnc in h judicial/lgal m. I i onl hough adhnc

and pc o h andad, combind wih a hough, woking knowldg o h ul o lgal hic and

poional ponibili, ha h public u in h lgal poion can b mainaind.

A Dck wax o loqunl in Te Rainmaker , lgal hic and poional ponibili mu b

mo han wha i ound in “big, a hic book.” Bing an hical aon mu alwa b acd ou and

caull dpicd in all o u.

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