Is the attorney subject to discipline for representing the environmental group against the hog farming company?

The reasoning behind the belief that the attorney is subject to discipline for representing the environmental group against the hog farming company centers around the principle of conflicts of interest and the duty to maintain loyalty to former clients. When an attorney represents a new client in a matter that is substantially related to a previous representation, there can be issues related to confidentiality and the potential for using information gained from the former client to the detriment of that client.

In this scenario, if the action taken by the environmental group constitutes the same matter as the previous lawsuit involving the attorney's former employer, the attorney may be considered to be representing interests that are adverse to those of the former employer. This could violate ethical rules that prohibit attorneys from representing new clients in matters that are substantially related to prior representations without the informed consent of the former client.

Thus, the outcome is that the attorney could indeed face disciplinary action for this representation, as it implicates both ethical considerations and the potential misuse of confidential information obtained during their prior representation. It's important to understand how the context of previous client relationships can impact an attorney's ethical obligations in future cases.