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The anonymous source who provided information to The New York Times about the misconduct of former CBS CEO Les Moonves was identified on May 18. The source, Allison Diercks, was an attorney who worked for the law firm hired by CBS to conduct the sexual harassment inquiry against Moonves.
Adrienne Lawrence, Straight Arrow News contributor and author of a book about workplace sexual harassment explains why, despite her admirable action, Diercks should be barred from practicing law.
As attorneys, we’re not just advocates but full-blown stand-in representatives. We are the embodiment of our clients, conduits operating on their behalf — absolute loyalty is vital. And yeah, there are very limited circumstances where you can break privilege, such as when your client tells you they’re intending to commit a crime, a la Donald Trump and his many attorney-client privileged endeavors. But beyond that, you take your client secrets to the grave. Diercks didn’t do that. She elevated her moral judgment above her duty to CBS. You can’t do that and hold a license.
I’ve represented criminals. I’ve helped people, you know, deal with a host of issues. And if I’m not comfortable with the issue at hand, and I couldn’t zealously advocate for the client in good conscience, I pass on the representation. Those are the rules. Diercks should have passed on CBS rather than passing judgment on how she thought they [did] not act.
Now, I won’t pretend Les Moonves wasn’t putting down some big predator vibes. Harassment-hunter Ronan Farrow documented ample details of harassment, intimidation, and harm at the hands of the CEO as told by a litany of women; women who lost their economic independence, sense of physical safety, sense of self and so much more, because one man didn’t have enough power while sitting atop of one of the world’s largest media empires.
And of course, we’d later learn of the New York Attorney General’s Office successfully suing CBS executives and Moonves for conspiring with the LAPD to conceal credible sexual assault allegations against him. The man was filth in a Luca Faloni suit. Even so while I am certain what Diercks did was right, she betrayed her oath at its core. And for that reason, just like Moonves, she got to be out of a job.
