99 N.J.L.J. 298
April 8, 1976
OPINION 327
Confidential Communication to
School Board Attorney by Board Member
An attorney for a board of education asks if he should comply
with the board's request to reveal a confidence reposed in him by
a member of the board relating to the board's affairs. The member
requested the inquirer to draft a resolution censuring another
member, giving the inquirer background information to help draft
the resolution. The member requested that such information be kept
confidential since he might not introduce the resolution. The
inquirer drafted the resolution, but it was not introduced. Now the
board has directed the inquirer to give it the draft resolution.
The inquirer is in doubt as to his obligations under DR
4-101(B) relating to the revelation of a client's confidences. He
cites our Opinion 226, 95 N.J.L.J. 54 (1972), for the proposition
that an attorney for a municipal body represents not only that
body, but also its individual members. That opinion, as also does
Opinion 174, 93 N.J.L.J. 132 (1970), contains language to that
effect in holding that there is no conflict of interest per se in
an attorney for a municipal body representing a member of that body
individually. Both opinions make clear, however, that a conflict
might develop between the individual member and the body, in which
case the duty of the attorney is to the body he represents.
This latter principle governs here. The inquirer makes clear
that the board member did not consult him as his individual
attorney, but rather as the attorney for the board, to have the
attorney draft a resolution for the board. The member was not,
therefore, in a position to demand secrecy or confidential
treatment as to matters germane to the board's business. If the
attorney had understood that the member was demanding secrecy or
confidential treatment as against the board, he should have made it
clear that he could not accept such confidences.
It is our view that the privilege or coincidence belongs to
the client, which is the board, and not to the individual member
whose interests now apparently conflict with those of the board. As
recognized by the inquirer, this view is supported by N.J.S. 2A:84
20(2) relating to the non-availability of the privilege as to
communications made to an attorney employed by two persons to act
for them in common, where the communication in question relates to
the subject matter of the employment. It is also supported by the
ABA Comm. on Professional Ethics and Grievances, Opinion 202
(1940). That opinion held that an attorney for a corporation has a
duty to disclose to the board of directors information relating to
wrongful acts of executive officers, even where the information is
obtained in confidence from such officers. In Opinion 202 the
following language appears:
Since, however, the board of directors of the trust
company is its governing body, we think A, with
propriety, may and should make disclosures to the board
of directors in order that they may take such action as
they deem necessary to protect the trust company from the
wrongful acts of its executive officers. Such a
disclosure would be to the client itself and not to a
third person. (Emphasis added)
Accordingly, we are of the opinion that the inquirer should comply
with the board's request