Brief Fact Summary. In the course of an action equivalent to a derivative suit against a union, appellants request that appellee’s law firm be disqualified on the grounds that it was previously retained as counsel for three of the individual officer-defendants.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. Attorneys may not represent plaintiffs in a derivative suit against a corporation if they have previously individually represented its officers in related matters.
A line must be drawn between the use of the Journal to report the activities of defendant Boyle as President, which is permissible, and the use of the Journal, in such a way in reporting such activities, as to promote the candidacy of said defendant.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Should Williams and Connolly be disqualified from further representation?
Held. Yes. Having already represented the officer-defendants in previous matters on an individual basis, the firm should not be allowed to continue representation of the union even after withdrawing its representation of the individual officers.
Discussion. Is it clear that Williams and Connolly have been able to continue representing the union had it not also been representing individual officers in related matters?.