Ruling Affirms Attorney-Client Privilege

Attorney-client communication is protected from being introduced as evidence at trial unless the communication is in furtherance of a crime or fraud, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed in a man's retaliatory discharge lawsuit. Lyle Thomason in Thomason v. Sappi-Cloquet, No. A05-2031 (7/18/06) appealed a district court's evidentiary rulings in his trial for retaliatory discharge. He challenged regarding the admissibility of privileged documents and prior workers' compensation judges' decisions. The respondent inadvertently disclosed a letter and memorandum that Thomason asserted shou...