Implications of Service on City's Governing Body
Adopted: January 13, 1989
Opinion rules that a lawyer may sue a municipality although his partner serves as a member of its governing body.
Editor's Note: This opinion is overruled by RPC 160.
Inquiry:
Under Revised CPR 290 an attorney may appear before the governing body of a municipality even though another attorney from the same firm serves as a member of that body. To avoid an unethical conflict, the member must: (1) disclose the relationship, (2) refrain from consideration or comment on the matter, (3) absent himself from meetings during any discussion of the matter, and (4) withdraw from voting on the matter.
Attorney A represents Contractor, who has a construction contract (awarded through a public bid process) with the City. Attorney B is a member of the governing body of City and a partner in Attorney A's law firm. A dispute arises between City and Contractor concerning performance of, and changes to, the contract, and compensation and damages payable under the contract. At Contractor's request, Attorney A assists Contractor in submitting a claim against the City. When the claim is presented to the governing body of the City for consideration, Attorney B discloses his relationship to Attorney A and takes no part in the consideration, discussion or voting on the matter-all in accordance with Revised CPR 290.
When the governing body of the City votes to deny Contractor's claim, Contractor asks Attorney A to institute a civil action to recover from City the amounts claimed.
Under the same conditions imposed by Revised CPR 290, and assuming appropriate "screening" of Attorney B, may Attorney A continue to represent Contractor in a civil action against City?
Opinion:
Yes. The Rules of Professional Conduct would not prohibit Attorney A from representing the contractor against the City in a civil action. In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety Attorney B should be screened within the law firm from any participation whatsoever in the litigation on behalf of the plaintiff. In addition and for the same reason, Attorney B should be apportioned no part of the fee resulting from the prosecution of the litigation. For the purpose of this opinion, it is assumed that Attorney B complied fully with the requirements of revised CPR 290 when the matter was initially being considered by the City Council and that Attorney B will continue to have no involvement in regard to the defense of the litigation in his official capacity.
Under no circumstances should Attorney A undertake the representation of the contractor in litigation where it is necessary that Attorney B be made a party defendant in either his individual or official capacity. In that situation a direct conflict of interest would be engendered and Rule 5.1(a) would compel the disqualification of Attorney A.