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Opposing Attorney Inadvertently Sent Us Their Clients Entire Case File. Do I Have Any Legal Obligations?

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Location: Michigan

Background: My wife and I (defendants) owned a small business and are in a legal dispute with our former landlord (plaintiff), which was previously dismissed without prejudice.

3 weeks ago, we received a demand letter from the plaintiff’s attorney, seeking damages against. We advised our attorney, but know we have no legal obligation to reply to a simple demand letter.

Last week, I received a large packet addressed to me and my wife at our home address. It was from our former landlord’s (plaintiff) attorney. It appears to be their entire case file. IANAL, so I looked through all 250+ pages and thought maybe this was discovery for a new case they were filing? Today their attorney calls me to request the documents back, that he had inadvertently sent them to us and not his client, as he intended. I basically told him “tough shit”.

I’m aware of ABA 4.4(b) but again IANAL so I don’t think this applies to us. Is there any obligation to me personally? To return the documents?

submitted by /u/twwatson
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