§ Rule 502 Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product; Limitations on Waiver

Rule 502 Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product; Limitations on Waiver

    The following provisions apply, in the circumstances set out, to disclosure of a communication or information covered by the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection.

    (a) Disclosure Made in a Federal Proceeding or to a Federal Office or Agency; Scope of a Waiver- When the disclosure is made in a Federal proceeding or to a Federal office or agency and waives the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection, the waiver extends to an undisclosed communication or information in a Federal or State proceeding only if

        (1) the waiver is intentional;

        (2) the disclosed and undisclosed communications or information concern the same subject matter; and

        (3) they ought in fairness to be considered together.

    (b) Inadvertent Disclosure- When made in a Federal proceeding or to a Federal office or agency, the disclosure does not operate as a waiver in a Federal or State proceeding if:

        (1) the disclosure is inadvertent;

        (2) the holder of the privilege or protection took reasonable steps to prevent disclosure; and

        (3) the holder promptly took reasonable steps to rectify the error, including (if applicable) following Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(b)(5)(B).

    (c) Disclosure Made in a State Proceeding- When the disclosure is made in a State proceeding and is not the subject of a State-court order concerning waiver, the disclosure does not operate as a waiver in a Federal  proceeding if the disclosure:

        (1) would not be a waiver under this rule if it had been made in a Federal proceeding; or

        (2) is not a waiver under the law of the State where the disclosure occurred.

    (d) Controlling Effect of a Court Order- A Federal court may order that the privilege or protection is not waived by disclosure connected with the litigation pending before the court--in which event the disclosure is also not a waiver in any other Federal or State proceeding.

    (e) Controlling Effect of a Party Agreement- An agreement on the effect of disclosure in a Federal  proceeding is binding only on the parties to the agreement, unless it is incorporated into a court order.

    (f) Controlling Effect of This Rule- Notwithstanding Rules 101 and 1101, this rule applies to State  proceedings and to Federal court-annexed and Federal court-mandated arbitration proceedings, in the circumstances set out in the rule. And notwithstanding Rule 501, this rule applies even if State law provides
the rule of decision.

    (g) Definitions- In this rule:

        (1) “attorney-client privilege” means the protection that applicable law provides for confidential attorney- client communications; and

        (2) “work-product protection” means the protection that applicable law provides for tangible material (or its intangible equivalent) prepared in anticipation of litigation or for trial.”

    (Added September 19, 2008)