Bar Exam prep question - see description

Question

An attorney represented a plaintiff in a civil suit against a defendant, who was also represented by a lawyer. In the course of developing the plaintiff’s case, the attorney discov-ered evidence that she reasonably believed showed that the defendant had committed a crime. The attorney felt that the defendant’s crime should be reported to local prosecutorial authorities. After full disclosure, the plaintiff consented to the attorney’s doing so. Without advising the defendant’s lawyer, the attorney informed the local prosecutor of her findings, but she sought no advantage in the civil suit from her actions. The defendant was subsequently indicted, tried, and acquitted of the offense. Was the attorney’s disclosure to prosecutorial authorities proper?

Answer 1

Likely yes. A lawyer has no duty of confidentiality to a non client, here the defendant. Also a lawyer can report information if it does not substantial prejudice his own client. Here, lawyer reps plaintiff in a civil case, not in any criminal proceeding and thus no harm to defendant, except where defendant might be in jail before the plaintiffs civil trial concluded as the defnedant is the defendant in the civil case too. further a lawyer MUST report a crime that involves danger to others. Here, there are no fact the the crime would or still could harm others so it is unclear.