delivered to her in some way by Goodwin's agent or agents; thus, the circumstances of
the delivery as well as Zimmerman's observations regarding the delivery are protected by
the attorney-client privilege.
This is a case of first impression. Although Zimmerman cites two California cases
that mention a defendant's use of an agent to deliver evidence to defense counsel (People
v. Meredith (1981) 29 Cal.3d 682 (Meredith) and People v. Lee (1970) 3 Cal.App.3d 514
(Lee)), neither case involved an actual finding of agency in a criminal context. Instead,
Zimmerman presents a novel argument whereby she contends a prima facie showing of
the existence of the privilege can be satisfied by an attorney representing to the court that
she received evidence through the defendant's agent or agents.
The party asserting the existence of a privilege bears the burden of establishing it
exists. (Mahoney v. Superior Court (1983) 142 Cal.App.3d 937, 940-941 (Mahoney).)
On the record before us, Zimmerman did not satisfy her burden because she offered
almost no evidence that would allow the court to determine the existence of agency,
which is generally a question of fact. Without the existence of agency, Zimmerman's
2
claim of privilege necessarily failed and the superior court's order for Zimmerman to
answer the subject questions was lawful and proper. Further, the court's citation and later
adjudication of contempt also were proper.
We are mindful that Zimmerman cannot be compelled to disclose the content of an
allegedly privileged communication to allow the court to determine if the privilege exists.
However, we are not willing to expand the law of privilege to allow an attorney to claim
the privilege exists in an agency situation without proving the preliminary fact of agency.
The petition is denied.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Goodwin is the defendant in San Diego Superior Court case no. SCD235172. She
is charged with first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)) with a special
circumstance that she committed the murder for financial gain (Pen. Code, § 190.2, subd.
(a)(1)). Goodwin also is charged with 10 other felony counts related to her fraudulent
conversion of the victim's property.
Zimmerman is a deputy public defender. Zimmerman was assigned to represent
Goodwin from September 2011 through the end of April 2012. On April 16, 2012,
Zimmerman lodged with the superior court a large manila envelope containing: (1) a
zippered leather portfolio holding various documents, including a will and trust related
documents and other papers purporting to belong to the victim (Gerald Rabourn); and (2)
another envelope containing eight items of unopened mail addressed to Rabourn. The
court provided the prosecution and the defense the opportunity to object to the court's
3
release of these items to the District Attorney. No party objected and the items were
released.
For reasons unrelated to this petition, Zimmerman was subsequently transferred by
her office to Vista and a new deputy public defender was assigned to represent Goodwin.
By serving Goodwin's new counsel with a request for prosecution discovery, the
prosecution attempted to discover certain information about the documents released by
the court, specifically "the identification of any individuals and their contact information,
other than [Goodwin], who handled or possessed the evidence at any time, and/or
provided information concerning the evidence, its location, and any movements or
alterations made to such evidence." These efforts proved unsuccessful. Ultimately, the
prosecution filed a motion to compel production of evidence and Zimmerman's testimony
about the documents. Goodwin's counsel opposed the motion, arguing that (1)
Zimmerman provided ineffective assistance of counsel because she accepted the
documents and turned them over to the court; (2) the documents should be excluded
under Evidence Code section 352; and (3) the information the prosecution sought was
protected by the attorney-client privilege.
On August 29, 2013, the court heard the prosecution's motion to compel. After
considering the pleadings and listening to oral argument, the court found that Goodwin's
current counsel had not shown that Zimmerman rendered ineffective assistance of
counsel. The court noted that the prosecution had "announced [its] intention to call Ms.
Zimmerman at trial as a witness" and found it "likely . . . that [Zimmerman] is going to
claim the attorney-client privilege." Thus, the court set an Evidence Code section 405
4
hearing to address the issue. In doing so, the court reminded the parties that the party
claiming the attorney-client privilege had the burden to show the privilege applies.
The court held the Evidence Code section 405 hearing on September 3, 2013.
During the hearing, Zimmerman testified, but refused to answer certain questions.
Specifically, Zimmerman invoked the attorney-client privilege in response to the
following questions:
1. When did the portfolio first come into your possession?
2. When did the mail first come into your possession?
3. Did you take possession of the portfolio and the mail at the same time?
4. Where were you when you first took possession of the portfolio?
5. Where were you when you first took possession of the mail?
6. From whom did you receive the portfolio?
7. From whom did you receive the mail?
8. Did you take possession of the items during a confidential communication with
Goodwin?
9. Who, other than yourself, handled any of the mail items?
10. Did you direct a third party to go to a location to retrieve the portfolio?
11. Do you know the location of the portfolio before it came into your
possession?
12. How long did the portfolio and its contents remain in your possession?
After hearing argument from the parties regarding whether the requested
information was privileged, the court found that the attorney-client privilege did not
5
apply and ordered Zimmerman to answer the questions and explained the consequences
of her failing to answer them. Zimmerman respectfully refused to do so. The court
concluded that its orders that the questions be answered were lawful orders and cited
Zimmerman for contempt for her refusal to answer the questions.
The court invited Zimmerman and Goodwin's counsel to provide additional
information in camera to support their position that the attorney-client privilege applied.
After conducting further proceedings in camera, the court's ruling remained unchanged.
The court ordered the parties and Zimmerman to return the next day for the contempt
adjudication and the imposition of any sanction.1
When the parties returned the next day, Zimmerman was present, as were counsel
for Goodwin, and the prosecution. The court again entertained argument from all counsel
and afforded Zimmerman the opportunity to address the court in camera. The court had
previously warned Zimmerman on the record, on multiple occasions, that her refusal to
answer the questions was contemptuous and the consequences that might flow from the
refusal. The court found that Zimmerman's refusal to answer the questions propounded
was a direct act of contempt. The court repeated the questions. The court found that
Zimmerman understood the questions, had the ability to answer, knew of the court's
ruling that they were lawful questions, yet willfully refused to answer. The court further
1 At the September 3 hearing, the court indicated its willingness to forgo any adjudication if the contempt citation itself was subject to a petition for a writ. The parties agreed to research the issue and address it the following day. At the September 4 hearing, the court agreed with the prosecution that the citation was not subject to a petition for a writ. Therefore, the court proceeded with the adjudication of contempt hearing. 6
found this act was done in the court's immediate view and presence. In addition, the
court made these findings beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court then addressed the imposition of sanctions. It allowed Zimmerman an
opportunity to offer any evidence or commentary in mitigation. Zimmerman pointed out
that her "actions [were] taken in good faith, that [she] did not refuse to answer the court's
questions to be belligerent or recalcitrant, that [she] do[es] honestly believe that [her]
client has an attorney-client privilege with regard to questions that [she] refused to
answer and [she] do[es] believe [she] [is] under an obligation to protect her confidences
at a peril to [her]self." Zimmerman also stated that she believed she had answered almost
all the questions in camera.
Zimmerman's counsel stressed Zimmerman's distinguished career with the San
Diego Public Defender's Office where she tried only the most difficult cases for 30 years,
during which time she demonstrated the highest ethical standards. The court agreed,
noting Zimmerman's competence and commitment to the defense function, stating, "it
was safe beyond any doubt to conclude that she'd not done these acts precipitously or
without a good deal of soul searching, and would not have done them, . . . in the way that
she did if she did not feel the law required it."
Nevertheless, the court sentenced Zimmerman to custody under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1219, subdivision (a) so that she would remain in custody until she
testified or the proceedings were concluded. The court ordered Zimmerman to be
remanded into the custody of the sheriff on September 10 at 10:00 a.m., unless that order
of execution of custody was stayed by a further order of any court. The court also stated
7
that if Zimmerman sought appellate review of the contempt order, it would grant a stay of
execution on the custodial sanction until September 16.
The court issued written findings and an order regarding contempt.
Zimmerman filed her petition for a writ of prohibition on September 9, 2013. On
September 11, this court stayed the superior court's order requiring Zimmerman to report
for custody pending resolution of the matter and ordered informal responses from the
prosecution and Goodwin's counsel. The prosecution filed an informal response, to
which Zimmerman filed an informal reply.
DISCUSSION
This matter concerns the scope of the attorney-client privilege. "The fundamental
purpose of the attorney-client privilege is, of course, to encourage full and open
communication between client and attorney." (Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d at p. 690.)
This rationale acquires particular magnitude in the criminal context: " 'As a practical
matter, if the client knows that damaging information could more readily be obtained
from the attorney following disclosure than from himself in the absence of disclosure, the
client would be reluctant to confide in his lawyer and it would be difficult to obtain fully
informed legal advice.' . . . Thus, if an accused is to derive the full benefits of his right
to counsel, he must have the assurance of confidentiality and privacy of communication
with his attorney." (Barber v. Municipal Court (1979) 24 Cal.3d 742, 751, citing Fisher
v. United States (1976) 425 U.S. 391, 403.)
The Evidence Code sets forth the requirements of the attorney-client privilege.
(See Evid. Code, § 950 et seq.) Evidence Code section 954 provides in relevant part a
8
client "has a privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a
confidential communication between client and lawyer . . . ." Evidence Code section 952
protects "confidential communication between client and lawyer," including "a legal
opinion formed and the advice given by the lawyer in the course of that relationship."
The privilege protects the disclosure of communications between attorney and client. It
does not protect disclosure of the underlying facts which were communicated (Coy v.
Superior Court (1962) 58 Cal.2d 210, 219-220; Upjohn Co. v. United States (1981) 449
U.S. 383, 395-396), and it does not extend to independent witnesses (D.I. Chadbourne,
Inc. v. Superior Court (1964) 60 Cal.2d 723, 737). However, "the attorney-client
privilege is not strictly limited to communications, but extends to protect observations
made as a consequence of protected communications." (Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d at
p. 693.)
Here, Zimmerman maintains that the prosecution's questions relating to her
obtaining possession of the portfolio and mail seek information protected by the attorney-
client privilege. Although the record is somewhat sparse and we are careful not to
divulge any of the information Zimmerman has provided under seal, Zimmerman
concedes in her petition that she did not receive either the portfolio or the mail directly
from Goodwin. Zimmerman further argues she, "to accommodate the court," "eventually
made clear she received through agents evidence which she ethically provided to the
court."
When a party asserts the attorney-client privilege, it is incumbent upon that party
to prove the preliminary fact that a privilege exists. (Mahoney, supra, 142 Cal.App.3d at
9
pp. 940-941.) Because Zimmerman claims the privilege exists here, it is her burden to
prove its existence.
Zimmerman claims she made "a sufficient foundational fact/prima facie" showing
of privilege. Specifically, Zimmerman argues:
"In the precise context at issue here, Lee and Meredith both refer to agents of the client without further definition. Both refer to agents in the context of persons bringing forth evidence to an attorney; both discuss whether the source of information is protected under the attorney-client privilege. Both cases were cited to the Court for this proposition. That should be enough to satisfy a preliminary fact/prima facie claim of privilege."
We are unaware of any situation where the mere citing of case law to support the
existence of a preliminary fact (here agency) is sufficient to establish a prima facie claim
of attorney-client privilege. The cases on which Zimmerman relies do not suggest a
different conclusion.
In Meredith, the victim was robbed and murdered. One of the defendants (Scott)
told his lawyer he took "the victim's wallet, divided the money with Meredith, attempted
to burn the wallet, and finally put it in the trash can." (Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d at
p. 686.) The lawyer had his investigator retrieve the wallet from the trash can. "Counsel
examined the wallet and then turned it over to the police." (Ibid.) The admissibility of
the wallet was not in dispute but the testimony of the investigator who retrieved it was
contested. Scott claimed the attorney-client privilege prevented the prosecution from
calling the investigator and eliciting the location of the retrieved wallet. Our high court
disagreed, holding "that whenever defense counsel removes or alters evidence, the
10
statutory privilege does not bar revelation of the original location or condition of the
evidence . . . ." (Id. at p. 695.)
Although the court in Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d 682, did not address an agency
argument, Zimmerman focuses on a single footnote in that case: "In each of the cases
discussed in text, a crucial element in the court's analysis is that the attorney's
observations were the direct product of information communicated to him by his client.
Two decisions, People v. Lee (1970) 3 Cal.App.3d 514 [83 Cal.Rptr. 715] and Morrell v.
State (Alaska 1978) 575 P.2d 1200 [Morrell], held that an attorney must not only turn
over evidence given him by third parties, but also testify as to the source of that
evidence. Both decisions emphasized that the attorney-client privilege was inapplicable
because the third party was not acting as an agent of the attorney or the client."
(Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d at p. 693, fn. 5, italics in original.) This footnote, however,
is not instructive here.
As Zimmerman concedes, the court's discussion of agency in Meredith is dicta. In
addition, at best, the footnote stands for the proposition that the attorney-client privilege
may apply to a situation where a third party, acting as the agent of the defendant, delivers
evidence to the defendant's attorney. However, Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d 682 provides
no further guidance than this general proposition. It does not tell us under what
conditions a court should find agency in this criminal context or what evidence the
defendant would have to offer to prove the existence and scope of agency. Meredith
simply is not helpful regarding the issue before us.
11
Like Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d 682, neither Lee, supra, 3 Cal.App.3d 514 nor
Morrell, supra, 575 P.2d 1200 are of much use here beyond supporting the principle that
the attorney-client privilege may exist when a defendant's agent provides evidence to the
defendant. Nevertheless, this uncontroversial principle alone does not support
Zimmerman's claim.
In Lee, the defendant was charged with attempted murder. (Lee, supra,
3 Cal.App.3d at p. 518.) The victim appeared to be have been kicked and severely
injured. The defendant's neighbors found a pair of work shoes in the shrubbery of their
front yard. They heard the defendant's wife had been looking for shoes so they gave
them to her. (Id. at p. 519.) The defendant's wife then gave the shoes to an investigator
for the public defender's office who in turn delivered them to the deputy public defender
who had been assigned to represent the defendant. Before being replaced as counsel by a
private attorney, the deputy public defender delivered the shoes to a municipal court
judge to keep as a " 'private citizen' subject to an appropriate judicial determination
respecting their proper disposition." (Id. at pp. 524-525.) The district attorney ultimately
obtained the shoes with a search warrant. (Id. at p. 525.) At trial, the district attorney
offered the shoes into evidence and elicited testimony from representatives of the public
defender's office that they received the shoes from the defendant's wife. (Id. at p. 527.)
The defendant argued that the testimony of the representatives of the public
defender's service should have been excluded under the attorney-client privilege. The
Court of Appeal disagreed, concluding "the privilege does not protect information
coming to an attorney from a third person who is not a client unless such a person is
12
acting as the client's agent." (Lee, supra, 3 Cal.App.3d at p. 527.) The court noted:
"There is no evidence of an attorney-client relationship between the defendant's wife and
the public defender's office, nor any evidence that in delivering the shoes to the public
defender the wife was acting as defendant's agent or under his direction." (Ibid.)
In Morrell, the defendant was convicted of kidnap, assault with the attempt to
commit rape, and forcible rape. At the defendant's request, his friend cleaned out one of
the defendant's vehicles and found a legal pad on which had been written what appeared
to be a kidnapping plan. The friend asked the defendant's attorney to come to the
defendant's residence to see what he had found. The attorney did so and took possession
of the pad on the friend's suggestion. (Morrell, supra, 575 P.2d at p. 1206.) Eventually,
the pad was turned over to the police. The pad became evidence at the defendant's trial
and the defendant's counsel offered testimony regarding how he came into possession of
it. (Id. at p. 1211, fn. 17.)
The defendant appealed his conviction, claiming he received ineffective assistance
of counsel because his attorney assisted his friend in turning over the pad to the police
and testified about how he came into possession of the pad. In finding the defendant's
counsel was not ineffective for testifying, the Alaska Supreme Court, following Lee,
held: "[I]f the evidence is obtained from a non-client third party who is not acting for the
client, then the privilege to refuse to testify concerning the manner in which the evidence
was obtained is inapplicable." (Morrell, supra, 575 P.2d at p. 1210.) Because the
defendant's friend was not acting as the defendant's agent when he gave the pad to the
13
defendant's attorney, the court reasoned the defendant's attorney's acquisition of the
evidence was not protected by the attorney-client privilege. (Id. at p. 1211, fn. 17.)
Lee, supra, 3 Cal.App.3d 514 and Morrell, supra, 575 P.2d 1200 imply that the
attorney-client privilege could protect information coming to an attorney from a third
person who is acting as the client's agent. Yet, neither court found this rule to be
applicable on the record before it. In both cases, the identities of the third parties were
known as well as the circumstances in which the third parties delivered the evidence to
the defendants' respective attorneys. Although the courts did not find that an agency
situation existed, there was ample evidence on which to base their respective decisions.
Here, in contrast, the evidence of agency is meager. The record contains little more than
Zimmerman's claim that an agency situation exists. There is a dearth of evidence a court
could even consider to determine if agency exists.
In support of her claim that agency exists, Zimmerman also cites to a civil case in
which the court found the attorney-client privilege existed. (See City and County of San
Francisco v. Superior Court (1951) 37 Cal.2d 227 (City of San Francisco).)
Zimmerman's reliance on this case is misplaced.
City of San Francisco was a civil matter in which the plaintiff brought an action
for personal injuries against the city and county. At the request of the plaintiff's
attorneys, a physician examined the plaintiff and provided his findings to the attorneys
for the "sole purpose" to aid the attorneys "in the preparation of a lawsuit for [the
plaintiff]." (City of San Francisco, supra, 37 Cal.2d at p. 231.) During the physician's
deposition, he testified there was no physician-patient relationship between the plaintiff
14
and him, he did not advise or treat the plaintiff, and he was an agent of the plaintiff's
attorneys. The physician thus refused to answer any questions about the plaintiff's
condition, claiming such information was protected by the attorney-client privilege.
(Ibid.) The Supreme Court agreed with the physician, determining the physician was "an
intermediate agent for communication between [the plaintiff] and his attorneys and that
[the plaintiff] may therefore invoke the attorney-client privilege . . . ." (Id. at p. 234.)
In City of San Francisco, the identity of the agent was not a secret. The scope of
the agent's authority was known. Here, it bears repeating, the record is much less certain.
The number of agents remains a mystery as does their respective identities (if there are
indeed more than one). The scope of the alleged agency is unknown. Simply put, while
the court in City of San Francisco, supra, 37 Cal.2d 227 had plenty of facts on which to
base its determination that agency existed, we have precious few here. Therefore, the
holding of City of San Francisco does not advance Zimmerman's argument.
Our independent research did not uncover any reported California criminal case
where the court found the delivery of confidential information or evidence by the
defendant's agent was protected under the attorney-client privilege. We did find an
out-of-state criminal case involving agency and the attorney-client privilege, but that case
(People v. Hilliker (1971) 185 N.W.2d 831 (Hilliker)) has more in common with City of
San Francisco, supra, 37 Cal.2d 227 than the instant matter.
In Hilliker, the defendant was convicted of manslaughter. He claimed a defense of
insanity because he stated he did not remember much of the evening in question.
(Hilliker, supra, 185 N.W.2d at p. 832.) The defendant's claim of insanity caused
15
defense counsel great difficulty in preparing for trial. As a result, the attorney employed
a physician to examine the defendant concerning his claim of amnesia and to assist
counsel in preparing a defense. The physician examined the defendant and provided
defense counsel with a report wherein the physician concluded the defendant was lying
about his inability to remember what had happened. (Id. at pp. 832-833.) At trial, the
prosecution offered the physician's testimony as well as portions of his report into
evidence over defense counsel's objection. (Id. at p. 833.)
The Michigan Court of Appeals concluded the physician's testimony and report
should have been excluded because both fell within the scope of the attorney-client
privilege. (Hilliker, supra, 185 N.W.2d at p. 833.) The court noted that the physician
"was defendant's agent for the transmission of confidential facts to his attorney in
furtherance of the attorney-client relationship. As such, both the report and testimony of
[the physician] were protected from disclosure as privileged communications." (Id. at
p. 834, fn. omitted.)
City of San Francisco, supra, 37 Cal.2d 227 and Hilliker, supra, 185 N.W.2d 831
offer clear examples of when the presence of a third party, acting as an agent, does not
disrupt the attorney-client privilege. In both cases, the agents (physicians) were
necessary to transmit certain facts to the clients' respective attorneys to aid those counsel
at trial. Zimmerman, however, contends no special skills are required to establish
agency. We agree, but the lack of any requirement that an agent possess special skills
does not negate the need to establish the existence of the agency as a threshold matter.
16
In her petition, Zimmerman accurately provides a primer on the law of agency.
"An agent is one who represents another, called the principal, in dealings with third
persons. Such representation is called agency." (Civ. Code, § 2295.) Any person may
be authorized to act as an agent. (See Naify v. Pacific Indemnity Co. (1938) 11 Cal.2d 5,
7.) Agency may be implied based on conduct and circumstances. (See Scholastic Book
Clubs, Inc. v. State Bd. of Equalization (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 734, 737-738.) However,
Zimmerman's summary overlooks a key component of the law of agency: "The existence
of an agency relationship is usually a question of fact, unless the evidence is susceptible
of but a single inference." (Violette v. Shoup (1993) 16 Cal.App.4th 611, 619.) Because
the existence of agency is generally a question of fact, it logically follows that agency
must be established with evidence.
Here, there simply is not sufficient evidence for the superior court to have
determined the existence of agency. We have scoured the record, including the
transcripts filed under seal.2 We determine there is not any evidence that could establish
agency. We do not know if Zimmerman received the portfolio and the mail at the same
time. We do not know if Zimmerman contends there is more than one agent. We do not
know the identity of the alleged agent(s). In short, we know very little of the
circumstances regarding how Zimmerman came into possession of the portfolio and mail.
2 We note the People have requested that this court unseal transcripts of in camera proceedings that took place in the trial court and which transcripts petitioner lodged/filed under seal in this court in support of her petition. We have reviewed the sealed transcripts, but have not considered their content in rendering our decision on the petition. We defer to the trial court to determine whether any, all, or part of the transcripts of its in camera proceedings should be unsealed. 17
On such a sparse record, we cannot contemplate how the superior court would have been
able to find agency. We certainly cannot.
We are mindful that a court may not require disclosure of information claimed to
be privileged to rule on a claim of privilege. (Evid. Code, § 915; Gordon v. Superior
Court (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 1546, 1557 ["[T]he privilege is absolute and disclosure may
not be ordered, without regard to relevance, necessity or any particular circumstances
peculiar to the case."].) We also acknowledge that the very facts that may establish
agency here might be the same facts Zimmerman claims are protected by the privilege.
And we do not hold that Zimmerman must disclose the facts she believes are privileged
to establish the basis for the privilege. However, most of the questions Zimmerman
refused to answer in open court did not call for privileged information. As the superior
court noted and we discuss above, Zimmerman refused to answer 12 questions posed by
the prosecution. In the context of this case, we deem only two of the questions even
arguably ask for privileged information. These are: From whom did you receive the
portfolio and from whom did you receive the mail. The other 10 questions do not require
Zimmerman to divulge any privileged communication, unless Zimmerman's answers
would (1) allow the prosecution to identify the agent or (2) disclose the content of a
confidential communication between Zimmerman and Goodwin. Zimmerman makes no
such argument in her petition and fails to explain how any of the other 10 questions call
for privileged information. For example, we fail to see how the questions about when
Zimmerman first came into possession of the portfolio or mail, where she was, if she
came into possession of the portfolio and the mail at the same time, or if she directed a
18
third party to retrieve the portfolio, require Zimmerman to divulge any attorney-client
privileged information. As such, Zimmerman could have answered the remaining 10
questions without reference to any privileged information.
At the hearing, Zimmerman chose not to offer any facts to establish the existence
and scope of agency, be it in camera or in open court. Thus, she is left with the
consequences of her decision. Because she claims the privilege exists, it is her burden to
establish the existence of the privilege. (Mahoney, supra, 142 Cal.App.3d at pp. 940-
941.) She must offer some facts to support her claim of privilege. This is especially true
when the claim of privilege rests on the existence of agency. (Cf. Violette v. Shoup,
supra, 16 Cal.App.4th at p. 619.) Without offering any facts to prove agency, she faces
the strong probability that the court will not find the existence of the privilege
established.
If we were to accept Zimmerman's position, we would be creating a much more
lenient standard of proving the existence of the attorney-client privilege. She argues it is
sufficient to establish the existence of the attorney-client privilege simply by representing
to the court that Goodwin's agent gave her the evidence. We find no authority to support
this position. In other words, in the criminal context, a defense attorney's representation
of agency is not the talisman that protects the circumstances under which the attorney
received the evidence absent actual facts to establish agency.
Not unlike the issue addressed in Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d 682, Zimmerman's
challenge to prove agency presents the court with competing policy considerations. (See
id. at p. 686.) Similar to the court in Meredith, we do not want to "chill free and open
19
communication between attorney and client" or otherwise "inhibit counsel's investigation
of [her] client's case." (Ibid.) That said, we cannot extend the attorney-client privilege so
far that it alleviates the burden of proving the existence of privilege to such a degree that
the party invoking privilege merely has to represent an agent was involved in the delivery
of the evidence without having to prove the existence of agency. Balancing these
considerations, we adopt the rule set forth in Lee, supra, 3 Cal.App.3d 514 that the
attorney-client privilege can protect the information coming to an attorney from the
client's agent as long as the agent is acting within the scope and authority of his agency.
In such a situation, we further conclude the attorney's observations could be privileged if
they were made as a direct consequence of a protected communication. (See Meredith,
supra, at p. 693.) However, the party claiming the existence of agency has the burden to
prove the existence and scope of the agency with actual facts.
Further, we do not find any policy justification for relieving the party of its burden
of establishing agency when claiming the attorney-client privilege based on agency. We
do not believe our conclusion will have a significant chilling effect on attorney-client
communications. If a defendant directly provides evidence to her attorney, the source of
that evidence is privileged. (See Meredith, supra, 29 Cal.3d at pp. 691-692.) This same
protection will extend to a situation where the defendant uses an agent to deliver the
evidence. (See id. at p. 693, fn. 5; Lee, supra, 3 Cal.App.3d at p. 527.) However, in the
latter situation, the party claiming the privilege must prove the existence of agency.
Zimmerman has not carried her burden in this regard. As such, we have little choice but
to deny the petition.
20
DISPOSITION
The petition is denied. The stay issued on September 11, 2013 of the superior
court's order requiring Zimmerman to report for custody is vacated. This matter is
remanded to the superior court for further proceedings as necessary. In the interests of
justice, this decision is made final as to this court seven days from the date of filing this
opinion. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.490(b)(3).)
HUFFMAN, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
HALLER, J.
21
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that an attorney asserting the attorney-client privilege based on the receipt of evidence from a client's agent must prove the preliminary fact of agency, and the attorney's mere assertion of agency without evidence is insufficient to satisfy this burden. Consequently, the trial court's order compelling the attorney to answer questions regarding the source and circumstances of the evidence was lawful, and the subsequent contempt adjudication for refusing to answer was proper.
Issues
Whether an attorney's assertion that evidence was received from a client's agent is sufficient to establish a prima facie claim of attorney-client privilege.
Whether the trial court properly held an attorney in contempt for refusing to answer questions about the source of evidence after failing to prove the preliminary fact of agency.
Disposition. denied
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The party asserting the existence of a privilege bears the burden of establishing it exists.”
“We are not willing to expand the law of privilege to allow an attorney to claim the privilege exists in an agency situation without proving the preliminary fact of agency.”
“Because the existence of agency is generally a question of fact, it logically follows that agency must be established with evidence.”