Narrative Opinion Summary
Appellants Sidley Austin LLP and South Berwyn School District 100 challenged a district court order mandating the disclosure of notes and memoranda from interviews conducted during an internal investigation for the School Board. The appeal, argued on February 24, 2009, was expedited at the request of plaintiffs-appellees to facilitate their preparations for an upcoming trial in August 2009. The appellate court determined that the materials in question are safeguarded by the attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine. As a result, the court reversed the district court's order, with a detailed opinion to be issued subsequently.
Legal Issues Addressed
Attorney-Client Privilegesubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The appellate court determined that notes and memoranda from interviews conducted during an internal investigation are protected under the attorney-client privilege.
Reasoning: The appellate court determined that the materials in question are safeguarded by the attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine.
Reversal of District Court Ordersubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The appellate court reversed the district court's order mandating the disclosure of privileged materials, emphasizing the protection afforded by legal doctrines.
Reasoning: As a result, the court reversed the district court's order, with a detailed opinion to be issued subsequently.
Work-Product Doctrinesubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court found that the notes and memoranda prepared during the internal investigation were protected as work product, thus reversing the district court's order for their disclosure.
Reasoning: The appellate court determined that the materials in question are safeguarded by the attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine.