Reuters ABA Allows Change in Confidentiality Rule CHICAGO (Reuters)> -- The American Bar Association on Monday changed its
ethics rules to allow lawyers to reveal clients' secrets in order to stop
future deaths or substantial bodily harm that can be caused by toxins or
defective tires.
The vote by its policy making body, the House of Delegates, changes an
18-year-old rule that allowed disclosures only if they would stop a client
from committing a crime that would likely cause ``imminent'' death or
substantial bodily harm.
The new language to allows disclosures that would prevent ''reasonably
certain'' death and the threat would not have to be ''imminent.''
The 243 to 184 vote came after heated debate in which opponents to the
change argued that the new language would turn lawyers into ``stealth
informants against their clients.''
The ABA is voting on a major overhaul of its ethics code and is
scheduled to continue action on other proposed changes to the rules
including those involving client confidentiality on Tuesday. It is not
expected to finish consideration of all proposals until ABA meetings next
year.
Copyright © 2001. Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. saved from url: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010806/ts/life_lawyers_ethics_dc_1.html
August 6, 2001
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