Internet Confidentiality Breach Draws Reprimand

The Georgia Supreme Court has imposed a public reprimand for a confidentiality violation of an attorney who posted protected information on the Internet in response to three negative reviews that the client had given on a consumer website.

The court noted that the attorney had no prior discipline aa well as personal and family health issues at the time.

The court previously had rejected a petition for the voluntary discipline of a review panel reprimand.

In her petition, Ms. Skinner admitted that, after the client had notified Ms. Skinner that the client had discharged Ms. Skinner and had obtained new counsel, Ms. Skinner posted on the internet personal and confidential information about the client that Ms. Skinner had gained in her professional relationship with the client. Ms. Skinner posted the information in response to negative reviews of Ms. Skinner the client had posted on consumer websites…

…we reject the petition for voluntary discipline that seeks a Review Panel Reprimand, the mildest form of public discipline authorized by the Rules of Professional Conduct, for the violation of Rule 1.6

The case is Georgia’s first involving disclosure of confidential information on the Internet.

We are beginning to see a number of these cases from other jurisdictions.

Lesson: remember Rule 1.6 before you react to a negative review. (Mike Frisch)