Advisory Opinion: 928

Year Issued: 1985

RPC(s):

Subject: Formation of attorney-client relationship

[The lawyer was retained by an insurance company to represent an employee of the insured company. The employee was covered under the terms of the insurance policy but was no longer employed by the insured.] In reviewing your inquiry, the Committee understood the facts to be that the employee you had been requested to represent had had no contact with you, and that in fact no attorney-client relationship had ever been formed. Based upon that understanding of the facts, the Committee was of the opinion that you had no authority to act as lawyer for the employee, and therefore should not enter a general denial on his behalf.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.