Opinions: From 2000-2004

  • 2004-13 (duty to disclose whereabouts of individual who might or might not be a client with an outstanding warrant;purchase of literary work by attorney so individual is not traced by authorities)
  • 2004-12 (fraud by client--rectification and duty of candor towards the tribunal)
  • 2004-11 (representation of two clients in criminal case--conflict of interest)
  • 2004-10 (use of "SuperLawyer" designation in advertising)
  • 2004-9 (ability to disclose HIV positive status of client to possible victims of sex crimes)
  • 2004-8 (attorney having two practices--one as sole practitioner, one as associate in firm--conflicts of interest)
  • 2004-7 (duty to disclose and to whom perceived misconduct by fiduciary who is also a client--return of unearned fee)
  • 2004-6 (federal practice in Pennsylvania without Pennsylvania admittance)
  • 2004-5 (solicitation in chat rooms)
  • 2004-4 (use of mother's attorney to file contempt petition against father's attorney on behalf of custody evaluation for non-payment of evaluator's bill)
  • 2004-3 (business plan of proposed law firm--compensation of non-lawyer employee)
  • 2004-2 (duty to investigate and disclose fraud by former client in estate matter)
  • 2004-1 (client wants to fire first attorney and hire new attorney--conduct of new attorney)
  • 2003-17 (unpublished opinion on direct mail solicitation)
  • 2003-16 (attorney with ancillary business selling securities and financial products)
  • 2003-15 (use of outside funding company to cover litigation expenses)
  • 2003-14 (fee sharing with disbarred attorney; falsifying settlement sheet; duty to report misconduct; escrowing of funds; return of client files)
  • 2003-13 (attorney not admitted in Pennsylvania handling arbitration in Pennsylvania)
  • 2003-12 (permitted functions in an immigration practice for individual licensed as attorney in foreign country)
  • 2003-11 (waiver of client confidentiality by executor of estate)
  • 2003-10 (no opinion issued)
  • 2003-9 (non-compete agreement for attorney)
  • 2003-8 (of counsel to plaintiff's firm serving as plaintiff's arbitrator choice on UM arbitration panel)
  • 2003-7 (treating physician, also a licensed attorney, receiving referral fee--conflict of interest)
  • 2003-6 (targeted direct mail --use of prior experience as a District Attorney)
  • 2003-5 (Rule 4.2 party admission--interaction with Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence)
  • 2003-4 (Duty to escrow funds under Rule 1.15 when issue of subrogation in question)
  • 2003-2 (referral fee to a non-lawyer--private opinion)
  • 2003-1 (affidavit returned to plaintiff's counsel rather than court--duty of plaintiff's counsel)
  • 2002-9 (duty to report improper solicitation)
  • 2002-8 (use of attorney designation on real estate sales card)
  • 2002-7 (real estate business with law firm as partner--conflict of interest)
  • 2002-6 (conflict of interest--attorney's mother is beneficiary of alleged incompetent's will, and is being proposed as guardian by petitioner, who is being represented by attorney in guardianship proceeding.)
  • 2002-5 (conflict of interest--provision of computer and internet service to clients of law firm)
  • 2002-4 (settlement demand--duty to report under Rule 8.3a)
  • 2002-3 (immigration attorney's duty to disclose prior arrest of client--candor to the tribunal or opposing counsel)
  • 2002-2 (asbestos defense attorney changes firms--conflict of interest)
  • 2002-1 (immigration attorney hires client--conflict of interest)
  • 2001-11 (marketing of attorney's services through bank--fee splitting and reimbursement of advertising expense)
  • 2001-10 (use of covert investigation report by defense counsel against worker's compensation claimant when investigation done by third party without knowledge or consent of defense counsel)
  • 2001-9 (collection of judgment on back support arrearages through use of a contingent fee--Rule 1.5d1)
  • 2001-8 (taking judgment note against client as security for legal fee--Rule 1.8a
  • 2001-7 (compensation plan for non-attorneys using a percentage of gross proceeds in collection matters)
  • 2001-6 (Interpretation of Rule of Disciplinary Enforcement 217)
  • 2001-5 (letterhead--one attorney in multiple firms)
  • 2001-4 (conflict of interest between client and co-counsel)
  • 2001-3 (conflict of interest--former client)
  • 2001-2 (duty to disclose fact that parents of deceased minor were not administrators of decedent's estate at time of litigation)
  • 2001-1 (fee agreement which permits changes in structure should client not agree with attorney's wishes regarding settlement)
  • 2000-100 (joint opinion with the Pennsylvania Bar Association on receiving referral fees from non-lawyer professionals)
  • 2000-12 (duty to inform clients of soon to be former partner's physical impairment--duty to report to Disciplinary Board)
  • 2000-11 (contact with in-house counsel of corporate defendant when outside counsel has been retained to handle litigation)
  • 2000-10 (use of credit card to pay attorney's fees)
  • 2000-9 (targeted direct mail communication--private opinion)
  • 2000-8 (duty to discuss settlement offer with client when hired by firm as independent contractor just to handle trial)
  • 2000-7 (international adoption law practice with Pennsylvania license)
  • 2000-6 (refusal to release location of minor's accounts by executrix to natural guardian--duty of attorney)
  • 2000-5 (correction of videotaped deposition testimony with misleading and/or inaccurate information--use at trial)
  • 2000-4 (duty to report misconduct--conflict of interest)
  • 2000-3 (does judgment in another jurisdiction trigger duties under Rule 1.15
  • 2000-2 (dual insurance coverage--defense counsel paid under one policy files declaratory judgment on other policy--conflict of interest)
  • 2000-1 (ethical propriety of software to determine veracity of recorded and live voice)