Section 14.20 Protected Communications

• Library: Evidence 2017

1. (§14.20) Protected Communications

The following persons shall be incompetent to testify:

. . . .

(3) An attorney, concerning any communication made to the attorney by such attorney’s client in that relation, or such attorney’s advice thereon, without the consent of such client;

Section 491.060, RSMo 2016.

“The attorney-client privilege protects ‘confidential communications . . . between an attorney and . . . client’ concerning representation of the client. The privilege may be invoked by either the attorney or the client, though it exists ‘for the benefit of the client.’” State ex rel. Polytech, Inc. v. Voorhees, 895 S.W.2d 13, 14 (Mo. banc 1995) (citation omitted) (quoting State ex rel. Terminal R. Ass’n of St. Louis v. Flynn, 257 S.W.2d 69, 73 (Mo. banc 1953), and State ex rel. Great Am. Ins. Co. v. Smith, 574 S.W.2d 379, 385 n.6 (Mo. banc 1978)). A corporate manager is a “client” for purposes of the privilege. State ex rel. Pitts v. Roberts, 857 S.W.2d 200, 202 (Mo. banc 1993).

[The Supreme Court of Missouri has] adopted an approach to the attorney-client privilege that recognizes...