Privilège en matière de litige

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Cette page a été mise à jour ou révisée de manière substantielle pour la dernière fois January 2019. (Rev. # 2218)

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General Principles

The purpose of litigation privilege is to create a "zone of privacy" around documents that were made in "relation to pending or apprehended litigation."

This privilege applies to "communications of a non-confidential nature between the solicitor and third parties and even includes material of a non-communicative nature."

Litigation privilege protects documents that were should be created in the following circumstances:

1. where the dominant purpose of the document is for existing, contemplated or anticipated litigation; and
   1. was created in answer to inquiries made by an agent for the party's solicitor; or
   2. was created at the request or suggestion of the party's solicitor; or
   3. was created for the purpose of giving them to counsel in order to obtain advice; or
   4. was created to enable counsel to prosecute or defence an action or prepare a brief.

Once a party decides to call expert evidence, the party shall be deemed to have waived the privilege in relation to the advice given to the party and the materials forming the foundation of that opinion.

Purpose

The purpose of this type of privilege is to create a "zone of privacy... in relation to pending or apprehended litigation."

It is intended to prevent the opposing counsel to "argue their case...on the wits borrowed from the adversary."

Work Product Privilege

Work product privilege (often called "litigation privilege" or "lawyer's brief privilege") protects all work product that is "rooted in analysis, not investigation" which comprises the "fruits of the mind not the feet."

It arises when a lawyer prepares "opinions, theories, analyses of the case, research, internal notes, memoranda or correspondence in the course of employment."

Notes

Notes made to refresh memory and to facilitate consultation with counsel prior to retaining counsel are captured by litigation privilege. This will include notes made by an accused, recording his interactions with police that are for the purpose of preserving memories in anticipation of litigation will be protected by litigation privilege.

Seized Property

Property seized and detained under a search warrant cannot be rendered inadmissible only on account of litigation privilege.

End of Privilege

There is no rule of "once privileged, always privileged" when it comes to litigation privilege.

The litigation privilege generally ends when the contemplated litigation and any closely-related litigation ends.

Crown Work Product

The Crown work product consists of written notes and materials "involves thought processes or considerations of Crown counsel in the preparation of its case."

It will include:

1. Crown counsel's notes on a file;
2. Crown counsel's memoranda on a file;
3. Correspondence;
4. Crown counsel's opinion; and
5. Trial strategy.

Crown counsel opinion will include legal opinion as well as opinion of the case strength and witness credibility.

It does not include "factual information" such as new facts or material inconsistencies.

Crown work product privilege is not a subset of solicitor-client privilege.

Assuming the subject of the claim of privilege is relevant, the presumption is that the documents are not privileged.

Work product during the investigative stage will usually not be privileged. At the prosecution stage, however, there is a greater likelihood that it will be privileged.

Simply transferring note-taking duties from the police to the Crown does not automatically protect the notes under Crown Work Produce Privilege.

Privilege on Interview Notes

The Crown cannot claim litigation privilege over interview notes as they are obliged to disclose the notes as relevant evidence.

Waiver of Litigation Privilege

As a general rule, a witness who refreshes their memory in court from any document, the opposing counsel is entitled to review it.

By using notes to refresh memory prior to testifying may result in a waiver of privilege.

Common-Interest Privilege

Common-interest privilege is not a privilege that stands-alone. It arises from solicitor-client privilege or litigation privilege.

The privilege attaches to information that is shared among several individuals with a common interest who are anticipating litigation.

See Also

• Solicitor-Client Privilege