Ojeda v. United States of America, No. 5:2013cv05051 - Document 9 (D.S.D. 2013)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re: Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver and granting 8 Motion for Order Directing Affidavit Response. Signed by US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on 9/10/13. (Attachments: # 1 Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver) (CMS)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA WESTERN DIVISION FILED SEP 10 2013 ~~ *********** **************************************** * OSCAR OJEDA, CIV 13-5051 * * Movant, * MEMORANDUM OPINION AND * ORDER RE: ATTORNEY-CLIENT vs. * PRIVILEGE WAIVER * UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, * * Respondent. * * ************ *************************************** The Government has requested an Order Directing Fonner Defense Counsel to Respond to Defendant's Claims of Ineffective Assistance set forth in the Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized that the attorney-client privilege may be impliedly waived when a client attacks his attorney's competence and raises the issue of ineffectiveness or incompetence of counseL See Tasby v. United States, 504 F.2d 332 (8th Cir. 1974). ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 also recognizes that a disclosure may be impliedly authorized under certain circumstances including when a lawyer must respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of his or her client. The American Bar Association, however, has issued an opinion advising that fonner counsel confronted with a client making ineffecti ve assistance ofcounsel claims, consistent with their ethical obligations (1) may not disclose infonnation imparted to him or her in confidence without first obtaining the infonned consent of the fonner client; and (2) may only disclose such infonnation in "court-supervised testimony." ABA Comm. on Eth. and Profl Responsibility, Fonnal Op. 10-456 (July 14, 201 0). In consideration ofthe allegations set forth in Movant's Motion under 28 U .S.c. § 2255 this Court has detennined that the Government cannot respond to the allegations ofineffective assistance of counsel without Attorney John R. Murphy responding by affidavit to the specific allegations in the Motion concerning his representation ofMovant. IfMovant opposes the waiver ofthe Attorney­ Client privilege as it relates to the specific allegations in his Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, those allegations will be stricken from Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED: 1. That the Clerk shall send this Order and the attached Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form to Movant; 2. That ifthe Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form is not signed and returned to the Clerk for filing within 30 days, the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel will be stricken from Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255; 3. That if the Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form is signed and filed, the Government shall forward a copy of the signed Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form to Attorney John R. Murphy, along with a copy of this Order and Movant's § 2255 Motion. Attorney Murphy shall within 14 days ofreceiving the Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form provide and file with the Clerk an affidavit responding to the specific allegations in the § 2255 Motion concerning his representation of Movant. 4. That the government shall serve a copy of the affidavit on Movant and shall file its response to the Motion within 14 days after receiving the affidavit. Dated this ~ day of September, 2013. I I i BY THE COURT: I l 1 I I j I I I I f

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