holder privilege (Pennsylvania) · Go Syfert
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holder privilege in Pennsylvania

17 Pennsylvania opinions name it 4 courts 1924–2025 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Pennsylvania courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (9)

CaseFollowedCited
United States v. Fishergreen
paed · 1988 · cited in 3 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1991–2014
2 sentences

2014Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 558 Pa. 478 , 738 A.2d 406 (1999); Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24 (Pa.Cmwlth.2001); see also United States v. Fisher, 692 F.Supp. 488 (E.D.Pa.1988) (any voluntary disclosure by the holder of the privilege that is inconsistent with the confidential nature of the relationship thereby waives the privilege).

1999See United States v. Fisher, 692 F.Supp. 488, 494 (E.D.Pa.1988) (any voluntary disclosure by the holder of the privilege that is inconsistent with the confidential nature of the relationship thereby waives the privilege).

33
Maleski v. Corporate Life Insurancegreen
pacommwct · 1994 · cited in 3 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
2 sentences

2018Co. , 165 Pa.Cmwlth. 72 , 646 A.2d 1 , 4 (1994) ("The purpose of the attorney-client privilege is to benefit the client, and accordingly, the client is the holder of the privilege.").

2018Co. , 165 Pa.Cmwlth. 72 , 646 A.2d 1 , 4 (1994) ("The purpose of the attorney-client privilege is to benefit the client, and accordingly, the client is the holder of the privilege.").

23
Joe v. Prison Health Services, Inc.green
pacommwct · 2001 · cited in 3 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2003–2025
2 sentences

2025Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt dissented on grounds not relevant to the instant appeal.12 Issue Did Commonwealth Court err by holding that Toland was the holder of the privilege created by the Board’s regulation at 37 Pa. Code § 61.2 and was therefore entitled to waive the privilege as its beneficiary? 11 “Pennsylvania law does not favor evidentiary privileges.” Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24, 31 (Pa. Commw. 2001) (citing Commonwealth v. Stewart, 690 A.2d 195 (Pa. 1997)).

2014Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 558 Pa. 478 , 738 A.2d 406 (1999); Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24 (Pa.Cmwlth.2001); see also United States v. Fisher, 692 F.Supp. 488 (E.D.Pa.1988) (any voluntary disclosure by the holder of the privilege that is inconsistent with the confidential nature of the relationship thereby waives the privilege).

13
Commonwealth v. McKennagreen
pasuperct · 1965 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2019–2019
2 sentences

2019Additionally, "the right to assert the privilege is that of the client." Commonwealth v. McKenna , 206 Pa.Super. 317 , 213 A.2d 223 , 226 (1965) (citing Appeal of McNulty , 135 Pa. 210 , 19 A. 936 (1890) ).

2019Additionally, "the right to assert the privilege is that of the client." Commonwealth v. McKenna , 206 Pa.Super. 317 , 213 A.2d 223 , 226 (1965) (citing Appeal of McNulty , 135 Pa. 210 , 19 A. 936 (1890) ).

12
Commonwealth v. Kauffmangreen
pasuperct · 1992 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
2 sentences

2018Furthermore, "[t]he failure to assert a privilege constitutes a waiver thereof." Commonwealth v. Kauffman , 413 Pa.Super. 527 , 605 A.2d 1243 , 1248 (1992).

2018Furthermore, "[t]he failure to assert a privilege constitutes a waiver thereof." Commonwealth v. Kauffman , 413 Pa.Super. 527 , 605 A.2d 1243 , 1248 (1992).

12
United States v. Nixongreen
scotus · 1974 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See also Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153, 175 (1979) (“Evidentiary privileges in litigation are not favored, and even those rooted in the Constitution must give way in proper circumstances.”) (footnote omitted); United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 710 (1974) (“Whatever their origins, these exceptions to the demand for every man’s evidence are not lightly created nor expansively construed, for they are in derogation of the search for truth.”). 12 Judge Leavitt would have denied Toland’s motion to dismiss the Parole Board’s objections on relevancy, overbreadth, and mootness grounds.

11
Herbert v. Landogreen
scotus · 1979 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See also Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153, 175 (1979) (“Evidentiary privileges in litigation are not favored, and even those rooted in the Constitution must give way in proper circumstances.”) (footnote omitted); United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 710 (1974) (“Whatever their origins, these exceptions to the demand for every man’s evidence are not lightly created nor expansively construed, for they are in derogation of the search for truth.”). 12 Judge Leavitt would have denied Toland’s motion to dismiss the Parole Board’s objections on relevancy, overbreadth, and mootness grounds.

11
Commonwealth v. Sanduskygreen
pasuperct · 2013 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014Similarly, our Supreme Court holds that “the work-product doctrine is not absolute but, rather, is a qualified privilege that may be waived.” Kennedy, 876 A.2d at 945 ; see Sandusky, 70 A.3d at 900 n. 15.

11
Wardleigh v. 2ND JUD. DIST. CT. OF STATEgreen
nev · 1995 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1996–1996
1 sentence

1996Del. 1992), and cases cited therein (this waiver doctrine should be limited to cases in which the privileged holder injects the privileged material itself into the case); Wardleigh v. Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada, 891 P.2d 1180, 1186 (Nev. 1995) (at issue waiver occurs only where the holder of the privilege pleads a claim or a defense in such a way that eventually he or she will be forced to draw upon the privileged communication at trial in order to prevail).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Pennsylvania. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (10)

CaseCitedYears
Custom Designs & Manufacturing Co. v. Sherwin-Williams Co. green
pasuperct · 2012
2 sentences

2019Custom Designs, 39 A.3d at 376–77. [E]stablished Pennsylvania law also makes clear that it is the client who owns this privilege: “The purpose of the attorney- client privilege is to benefit the client, and accordingly, the client is the holder of the privilege.” Maleski[, 646 A.2d at 4].

2019Custom Designs , 39 A.3d at 376-77 . [E]stablished Pennsylvania law also makes clear that it is the client who owns this privilege: "The purpose of the attorney-client privilege is to benefit the client, and accordingly, the client is the holder of the privilege." Maleski [, 646 A.2d at 4 ].

32015–2019
Estate of Dowie green
pa · 1890
2 sentences

2019Additionally, "the right to assert the privilege is that of the client." Commonwealth v. McKenna , 206 Pa.Super. 317 , 213 A.2d 223 , 226 (1965) (citing Appeal of McNulty , 135 Pa. 210 , 19 A. 936 (1890) ).

2019Additionally, "the right to assert the privilege is that of the client." Commonwealth v. McKenna , 206 Pa.Super. 317 , 213 A.2d 223 , 226 (1965) (citing Appeal of McNulty , 135 Pa. 210 , 19 A. 936 (1890) ).

22019–2019
Commonwealth v. Stewart green
pa · 1997
1 sentence

2025Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt dissented on grounds not relevant to the instant appeal.12 Issue Did Commonwealth Court err by holding that Toland was the holder of the privilege created by the Board’s regulation at 37 Pa. Code § 61.2 and was therefore entitled to waive the privilege as its beneficiary? 11 “Pennsylvania law does not favor evidentiary privileges.” Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24, 31 (Pa. Commw. 2001) (citing Commonwealth v. Stewart, 690 A.2d 195 (Pa. 1997)).

12025–2025
State v. Wong green
haw · 2002
1 sentence

2016Wong, supra at 521 , 40 P.3d 914 .

12016–2016
Commonwealth v. Chmiel green
pa · 1999
2 sentences

2014Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 558 Pa. 478 , 738 A.2d 406 (1999); Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24 (Pa.Cmwlth.2001); see also United States v. Fisher, 692 F.Supp. 488 (E.D.Pa.1988) (any voluntary disclosure by the holder of the privilege that is inconsistent with the confidential nature of the relationship thereby waives the privilege).

2014Commonwealth v. Chmiel, 558 Pa. 478 , 738 A.2d 406 (1999); Joe v. Prison Health Servs., Inc., 782 A.2d 24 (Pa.Cmwlth.2001); see also United States v. Fisher, 692 F.Supp. 488 (E.D.Pa.1988) (any voluntary disclosure by the holder of the privilege that is inconsistent with the confidential nature of the relationship thereby waives the privilege).

12014–2014
Commonwealth v. Kennedy green
pa · 2005
1 sentence

2014Similarly, our Supreme Court holds that “the work-product doctrine is not absolute but, rather, is a qualified privilege that may be waived.” Kennedy, 876 A.2d at 945 ; see Sandusky, 70 A.3d at 900 n. 15.

12014–2014
In re Estate of Wood green
pasuperct · 2003
1 sentence

2013In light of our discussion infra, we need not address this issue further; however, we note that, in In re Estate of Wood, 818 A.2d 568 (Pa.Super.2003), where an attorney who had represented the deceased was ordered to disclose certain reports in estate litigation among the deceased's surviving daughters, we implicitly recognized an attorney is also a holder of the privilege under the work-product doctrine. .

12013–2013
Steen v. First Nat. Bank green
ca8 · 1924
1 sentence

1994Steen v. First National Bank, 298 F. 36 (8th Cir.1924).

11994–1994
Boyd v. Kilmer green
pa · 1926
2 sentences

1993Id. at 539-40 , 132 A. at 711-12 .

1993Id. at 539-40 , 132 A. at 711-12 .

11993–1993
Erb v. Brown neutral
· 1871
1 sentence

1924Ordinarily, a servitude created by deed can be removed only by a grant of like dignity, but where the abandonment of an easement can be established, the holder of the privilege, or those claiming through him, cannot thereafter complain: Erb v. Brown, 69 Pa. 216 .

11924–1924

Statutes the citing opinions construe

PA § 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5928 (5)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

CA 157 (1906–2025) IL 41 (1919–2024) TX 37 (1878–2025) NJ 30 (1895–2021) ID 26 (1909–2020) CO 22 (1963–2026) PA 17 (1924–2025) LA 16 (1845–2025) OH 15 (1907–2024) AL 13 (1876–2014) MA 13 (1900–2020) NY 12 (1862–2016) NM 12 (1999–2018) FL 12 (1994–2024) KS 11 (1878–2020) AZ 11 (1968–2023) CT 10 (1992–2022) WA 7 (1915–2019) OR 7 (1961–2021) MD 7 (1904–2026) SD 7 (1927–2016) NC 6 (1905–2022) GA 6 (1915–2019) MS 6 (1877–2017) IN 5 (1877–2012) DE 5 (2016–2022) NV 4 (2015–2022) MO 4 (1904–1992) ME 4 (2010–2020) NE 4 (1934–2018) MT 4 (1940–2020) IA 4 (1930–2010) MN 4 (1919–2006) MI 4 (1989–2015) VA 3 (1987–2022) UT 3 (1914–2011) KY 3 (1952–2003) WI 3 (1995–2014) AK 3 (2012–2023) NH 3 (2006–2011) HI 2 (2003–2005) OK 2 (1917–1940) VT 2 (2005–2005) SC 2 (1900–1975)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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