Johnston v. Beneficial Management Corp. of America

Roger M. Leed, attorney for petitioners in a class action suit, was held in contempt of court for violating a protective order prohibiting communications with actual or potential class members who were not formal parties to the action. The Court of Appeals, Division One, affirmed the judgment. We reverse.

The issue is whether Leed violated the protective order by communicating with class members by mail without complying with the order's provisions requiring prior court approval. Leed asserts that the order did not reach his conduct either because the order generally did not apply, or the…