Welcome to Friday and the 233rd #fiveforfriday legal ethics quiz!
233 prompts many thoughts. Alas, none that will be shared today. Rather, today’s intro will focus on movies set in northeastern Massachusetts.
I’m in Gloucester, MA. The First Brother has been camping here since Monday and I joined him for the weekend. One of our favorite movies is Inglourious Basterds.
(I only mention Tarantino’s best effort because I like to reward people who do more than skip to Question 5. If you know who starred in Inglourious Basterds, well, there’s your hint for Question 5. Now, back to the intro.)
As true New Englanders know, when it comes to the North Shore, the movie that matters most is The Perfect Storm.
Yes, I’m aware that Manchester By The Sea garnered more critical acclaim.
But this is my blog.
So, as much as I think that Casey Affleck ranks among the most underrated actors of all-time – (have you seen Gone Baby Gone?) – the fact remains that the film I associate most with Cape Ann is The Perfect Storm. So, high on the list of things that Patrick and I want to do this weekend is to pay a visit to The Crow’s Nest.
Low last on the list is “Mike blogging.” Thus . . .
. . . onto the quiz!
Rules
- Open book, open search engine, text-a-friend.
- Exception: Question 5. We try to play that one honest.
- Unless stated otherwise, the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct apply
- Team entries welcome, creative team names even more welcome.
- E-mail answers to michael.kennedy@vermont.gov
- I’ll post the answers & Honor Roll on Monday
- Please don’t use the “comment” feature to post your answers
- Please consider sharing the quiz with friends & colleagues
- Share on social media. Hashtag it – #fiveforfriday
Question 1
Which requires a lawyer to withdraw from representing a client?
- A. Continued representation will result in a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
- B. The lawyer’s physical or mental condition materially impairs the lawyer’s ability to represent the client.
- C. The lawyer is discharged.
- D. All the above.
Question 2
Assuming a conflict can be waived under the applicable rule, each affected client must:
- A. give informed consent.
- B. give informed consent, confirmed in writing.
- C. give informed consent, confirmed in writing within a reasonable time after the lawyer commences the otherwise prohibited representation.
- D. Don’t assume. In Vermont, no conflicts can be waived.
Question 3
True or False?
By its plain language, the rule on safekeeping a client’s property only applies to a client’s funds.
Question 4
Absent consent, the “no contact” rule prohibits communication on the subject of the representation with a represented _______
- A. person.
- B. party.
Question 5
If you skipped the intro, you missed a hint.
Since 2016, two movie stars have been locked in a custody dispute over their 5 children. As a result of a procedure that is confusing to me, they hired a “private judge” who, in May, granted custody to Movie Star #1. Movie Star #2 objected and moved to disqualify the “private judge” for failing to disclose a prior business relationship with the lawyers who represent Movie Star #1.
Last week, a California court granted the motion, concluding that the private judge had committed an “ethical breach” that may “cast doubt on the judge’s ability to be impartial.”
Name the movie stars.