Texas Ethics Committee: Unethical to Consult with Potential Expert When Purpose is not to Hire but to Disqualify

The committee was asked if a lawyer could disclose confidential information to a person where there was no substantial purpose other than to preclude the other side from hiring the expert, and held “no.”  Tex. St. B. Prof. Eth. Comm. Op. 676 (Aug. 2018) (here).

I’ve had lawyers do this to me, or at least that’s how it seemed, and it’s an irritating but understandable tactic when there’s only a few people in a field who know what they’re doing.

But don’t do it!

 

About David

Professor of Law, Mercer University School of Law. Formerly Of Counsel, Taylor English Duma, LLP and in 2012-13, judicial clerk to Chief Judge Rader.