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Professional Responsibility Keyed to Gillers
In re Primus
Citation:
436 U.S. 412 (1978)Facts
Edna Smith Primus was a lawyer associated with the South Carolina affiliate of the ACLU, though not on its payroll. In July 1973, she addressed a group of women who had been sterilized as a condition of receiving Medicaid benefits, informing them about possible legal action. Later, Primus wrote to one of these women, Mary Williams, advising her that the ACLU would provide free legal representation if she wished to sue the doctor who performed the sterilization. This letter led to disciplinary proceedings against Primus for improper solicitation under South Carolina’s disciplinary rules. The state Supreme Court found that Primus had violated ethical standards by soliciting a client and issued a public reprimand.
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