Can I purchase my client’s lawsuit from the client, have the client then assign the rights to me and then pursue it?
Samuel C. Stretton.
The answer is no and specifically prohibited by Rule of Professional Conduct 1.8(i). This situation creates a very severe conflict of interest between the lawyer and his client. The lawyer in attempting to purchase the lawsuit is looking out for the lawyer’s interest, certainly not the client’s, and that is a concurrent conflict of interest. That would be prohibited by Rule of Professional Conflict 1.7.
