In re Grand Jury Subpoena Addressed to Austin
In re Grand Jury Subpoena Addressed to Austin
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Charles Austin and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company have moved for an order (1) quashing the subpoena addressed to Charles Austin directing him to appear before the grand jury and (2) directing the United States Attorney and his assistants not to interview any of the employees of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company (“Manufacturers”) without informing those employees that Manufacturers will arrange to have Simpson Thacher & Bartlett represent them if they so desire.
The United States Attorney states that he has agreed not to conduct any informal interviews of those of Manufacturers’ personnel who have personally requested Simpson Thaeher & Bartlett to represent them without giving that firm an opportunity to be present. The United States Attorney has not agreed to refrain from interviewing, without notice to the firm, employees who have not asked the firm to represent them. The court finds no basis for directing the United States Attorney or his assistants to inform this latter class of employees that Manufacturers has arranged to have Simpson Thaeher & Bartlett represent them in connection with their testimony in this matter.
The retention of an attorney must be done by agreement between the attorney and the client. Until an employee of Manufacturers agrees to be represented by an attorney there is no attorney-client relationship. The United States Attorney has no obligation to inform the employee of the readiness of the attorney to undertake the representation.
The motion is in all respects denied. So ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of a Grand Jury Subpoena Addressed to Charles AUSTIN
- Status
- Published