Rule 4.4 Respect for the Rights of Third Persons; Inadvertently Sent Documents

Lawyers have to treat other people fairly, even when those people aren't their clients. This rule says a lawyer can't use tactics that only serve to embarrass, delay, harass, or burden someone else. It also says a lawyer can't gather evidence in ways that break the legal rights of other people. Basically, a lawyer's job is to represent their client well, but not by bullying or mistreating others along the way.

The second part deals with mistakes, like when someone accidentally sends a lawyer a document or email they weren't supposed to see. If a lawyer gets something and knows, or should reasonably know, that it was sent by accident, they have to tell the sender right away. This gives the sender a chance to figure out what to do next, like asking for the document back or addressing any mix-up. The rule doesn't force the lawyer to ignore what they saw or return it automatically, but it does require them to be upfront about receiving it.