Ethics Committee Advisory Opinion #1984/5-17
April 9 , 1985
ANNOTATIONS:
An attorney who has received stolen property from his client is obliged to return the property to the authorities, while at the same time, maintaining the confidences of his client.
An attorney in possession of stolen property given to him by a client under the cloak of the attorney-client privilege may want to hire a second attorney to return the property.
QUESTION:
The inquiring attorney has requested an opinion from the Ethics Committee regarding the following question: If an attorney comes into the possession of stolen property given to him by a client under the cloak of attorney-client privilege, what are the attorney’s obligations under the Code of Professional Responsibility?