Latest Update: Friday, May, 16th 2008

A bill to amend the Federal Rules of Evidence to address the waiver of the attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine.

2/27/2008--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence with respect to the disclosure of a communication or information covered by the attorney-client privilege and work product protection.

Provides that, when such a disclosure is made in a federal proceeding or to a federal office or agency, and waives the attorney-client privilege or work-product protection, the waiver extends to an undisclosed communication or information in a federal or state proceeding only if: (1) the waiver is intentional; (2) the disclosed and undisclosed communications or information concern the same subject matter; and (3) they ought in fairness to be considered together.

States that, when the disclosure is made in a federal proceeding or to a federal office or agency, it does not operate as a waiver in a federal or state proceeding if: (1) the disclosure is inadvertent; (2) the holder of the privilege or protection took reasonable steps to prevent disclosure; and (3) the holder promptly took reasonable steps to rectify the error.

Declares that, when the disclosure is made in a state proceeding and is not the subject of a state-court order concerning waiver, it does not operate as a waiver in a federal proceeding if the disclosure: (1) would not be a waiver under this rule if it had been made in a federal proceeding; or (2) is not waived under law of the state where the disclosure occurred.



Latest Actions
  • 02/28/2008 - Received in the House.
  • 02/28/2008 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  • 02/28/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
  • 02/27/2008 - Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  • 02/27/2008 - Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1317-1319; text as passed Senate: CR S1318-1319)
  • 02/25/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. With written report No. 110-264.
  • 02/25/2008 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 580.
  • 01/31/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.
  • 01/31/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  • 12/11/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15141-15142)
  • 12/11/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S15142)
Bill Text
File name Last Updated
S.2450 Referred to House Committee after being Received from Senate02/29/2008
S.2450 Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate02/28/2008
S.2450 Reported in Senate02/27/2008
S.2450 Introduced in Senate12/13/2007

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