Client Intake Form Isn’t Covered by Privilege

A client’s identification on a law firm’s intake form of the person who had referred the client for bankruptcy advice was not protected by the attorney-client privilege, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held July 30 (United States v. Leonard-Allen, 7th Cir., 12-3299, 7/30/13).

Defendant Norma Leonard-Allen was convicted of lying to a grand jury that was investigating whether her co-defendant, Walter Stern III, helped her conceal assets in a bankruptcy proceeding. Stern, who was Leonard-Allen’s former attorney, claimed he was unaware at the time of the transactions that Leonard-Allen was going to declare ...