HACKENSACK NEW JERSEY BERGEN COUNTY ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE

Plaintiff, a limited partner in a real estate investment company, alleged that it transferred title to some of its properties to its attorney, Joseph L. Basralian, Esq., as a "straw man," allegedly to hide its ownership and to dupe the Department of Environmental Protection into allowing it to build a road on protected wetlands. Plaintiff has made out a prima facie case of fraud. The attorney's testimony about his role in this transaction can be compelled under the crime-fraud exception to the attorney-client privilege.    Langanella Property Mgmt., LLC, etc., et al. v. Hekemian, et al., New Jersey Ch. Div., November 9, 2007