Elawyers Elawyers
Ohio| Change

Schrader v. U.S., 5:16-CV-5110-KES. (2016)

Court: District Court, D. South Dakota Number: infdco20161222f15 Visitors: 6
Filed: Dec. 21, 2016
Latest Update: Dec. 21, 2016
Summary: ORDER VERONICA L. DUFFY , Magistrate Judge . This matter is before the court on movant Susan Marie Schrader's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct her sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2255. In her motion, Ms. Schrader makes a claim for relief based upon the allegedly ineffective assistance of counsel she received from her former defense counsel, Lorie D. Melone. See Docket 1. The United States of America (government) has requested an order directing former defense counsel to file an af
More

ORDER

This matter is before the court on movant Susan Marie Schrader's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct her sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. In her motion, Ms. Schrader makes a claim for relief based upon the allegedly ineffective assistance of counsel she received from her former defense counsel, Lorie D. Melone. See Docket 1. The United States of America (government) has requested an order directing former defense counsel to file an affidavit responding to Ms. Schrader's claims of ineffective assistance as set forth in her motion. See Docket Nos. 4 and 5.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized that the attorney-client privilege may be impliedly waived when a client attacks his attorney's competence and raises the issue of ineffectiveness or incompetence of counsel. See Tasby v. United States, 504 F.2d 332 (8th Cir. 1974). ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 also recognizes that a disclosure may be impliedly authorized under certain circumstances including when a lawyer must respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of his or her client.

The American Bar Association, however, has issued an opinion advising that former counsel confronted with a client making ineffective assistance of counsel claims, consistent with their ethical obligations (1) may not disclose information imparted to him or her in confidence without first obtaining the informed consent of the former client; and (2) may only disclose such information in "court-supervised testimony." ABA Comm. on Eth. and Prof'l Responsibility, Formal Op. 10-456 (July 14, 2010).

In consideration of the allegations set forth in Ms. Schrader's motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, this court has determined that the government cannot respond to the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel without attorney Lorie D. Melone responding by affidavit to the specific allegations in the motion concerning her representation of Ms. Schrader. If Ms. Schrader opposes the waiver of the attorney-client privilege as it relates to the specific allegations in her motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, those allegations will be stricken from her motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. The government's motion (Docket No. 4) directing former defense counsel to respond is granted as follows: A. That the clerk shall send this order and the attached attorney-client privilege waiver form to Ms. Schrader; B. That if the attorney-client privilege waiver form is not signed and returned to the clerk for filing within 21 days, the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel will be stricken from Ms. Schrader's motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255; C. That if the attorney-client privilege waiver form is signed and filed, the government shall forward a copy of the signed attorney-client privilege waiver form to Lorie D. Melone, along with a copy of this order and Ms. Schrader's motion pursuant to § 2255 (Docket No. 1). Attorney Lorie D. Melone shall within 21 days of receiving the attorney-client privilege waiver form provide and file with the clerk an affidavit responding to the specific allegations in the § 2255 motion concerning her representation of Ms. Schrader. D. The government shall promptly thereafter serve a copy of Ms. Melone's affidavit upon Ms. Schrader. 2. The government's motion for extension of time (Docket No. 4) is granted; the government shall file its response to Ms. Schrader's motion no later than 30 days after Ms. Melone's affidavit has been received.

ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE WAIVER

You have made a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 alleging that you received ineffective assistance from your former lawyer, Lorie D. Melone. The Court has reviewed your motion and determined that an affidavit from your former lawyer concerning the specific allegations in your motion is necessary to in order to evaluate your motion.

The American Bar Association advises your attorney to obtain your consent before disclosing confidential communications between you and him that may bear on the disposition of your motion. This is a professional ethics requirement. As a matter of law, you have waived the attorney-client privilege regarding the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel in your motion. This means that if you wish to proceed on your claims of ineffective assistance, you must allow your communications with your former counsel concerning the specific claims to be disclosed to the Government and to the Court.

If you wish to proceed with your claims of ineffective assistance of counsel as set forth in your Section 2255 motion, you must sign this form and return it to the Court. The form authorizes your attorney to disclose confidential communications only to the extent necessary to address the ineffective assistance of counsel claims that are raised by your 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion.

You should know that if you sign this authorization, you run the risk that your attorney will contradict your statements about her representation of you. However, you should also know that the Court will strike the ineffective assistance of counsel claims in your motion if you do not authorize your attorney to give an affidavit in response to the ineffective assistance claims.

You must return this form within thirty (30) days from the date of the Court's order directing the clerk to mail this Waiver to you or the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel will be stricken from your motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

AUTHORIZATION

I have read the document entitled "Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver." I hereby authorize my former attorney, Lorie D. Melone, to disclose confidential communications only to the extent necessary to address the ineffective assistance of counsel claims that are raised by my motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

Dated this _____ day of January, 2017. _________________________________ Movant Susan Marie Schrader
Source:  Leagle

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer