Best of the Best—1 or 2 or 3 or 4?

            Up until five years ago the only listing for lawyers in the Chattanooga Times Free annual crusade to designate the Best of the Best under their super-secret method of selection was Best Divorce Lawyer.  Jennifer Lawrence, Glenna Ramer, Hal North and David Noblit have annually fought for recognition in this category.  The fact that one of the above has consistently purchased half page ads in the publication is just a collateral benefit and coincidental to the selection process.

            Suddenly the defenders of the local legal constituency of 1,200-1,500 attorneys have taken on the out-of-state invaders from Alabama.  Warren & Griffin, when not walking across the Walnut Street Bridge or standing on an overpass on I-75 advocating public safety proudly claim that they are Chattanooga’s Best of the Best Law Firm for the past five years according to the super-secret selection process of our local newspaper.

            Reverend Gary Massey and the purchasers of John McMahan’s moniker, The Insiders, have yet to be selected as the 3rd and 4th Best of the Best but there is still hope for them as they continue to spend big bucks for legal advertising on billboards, radio, television and the internet.

            This December the Billboard Boys from Birmingham (Wettermark Keith) who have cornered the market on the highways and byways of Hamilton County have now taken to the television airways to proclaim that the good citizens of our community have selected them as the Best of the Best Law Firm although they still neglect to state that their main office is in Birmingham, Alabama, and only have a satellite office in Chattanooga.

            What a dilemma!  It’s like trying to pick between Alabama and Clemson in the National Championship Football game.  Are there no other local law firms that can challenge these self-proclaimed defenders of the rights of the injured and deceased?  Where is Charles Pitman when the public needs him? (Gone back to Huntsville, Alabama, and Divorce Court?)

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Gold Standard Gets Tarnished?

Prior to 1978 it was the goal of all attorneys to obtain an “AV” rating in the Martindale-Hubbell as a sign you were a talented and ethical lawyer.  The “A” stood for excellent, expertise and legal ability in the community amongst fellow practitioners.  The “V” stood for high ethical standards that came from judges and attorneys that had often been involved in litigation with the person being considered for an AV rating.

            In order to obtain the highest category you had to be in practice for at least 15 years.  The lawyers selected to anonymously rate your ability were both plaintiff and defense lawyers in various categories.   While the large firms had an easier path for their members to get an AV it was more difficult for personal injury plaintiff lawyers to get the rating because of the often confrontational nature of dealing with defense lawyers.

            You couldn’t get an AV by having a few of your buddies send in a favorable recommendation.  You also couldn’t get the highest rating by buying a plaque or membership for $1,000.00.  It was a prized symbol that you were a capable and well thought of member of the legal profession.

            I recently came across an announcement in October 2018 that there had been a merger of Martindale-Hubbell and the more controversial Avvo into a new entity called “Martindale-Avvo” in a new family of legal marketing brands that also include Nolo and Ngage Live Chat.

            The new entity claims access to more than 25 million consumers monthly and “engagement with potential clients through forums that receive more than 70,000 questions monthly.”

            With its checkered record by the court decision in New York and other states as to its illegal and ethical ramifications Avvo seemed an unlucky partner of the formerly time revered Martindale-Hubbell.

            The quest for profits and legal existence often result in strange bedpartners.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Big Boys Get in Advertising Market

Two of Chattanooga’s largest and best respected law firms have recently entered the marketing frenzy soliciting legal business.  The Chambliss firm and Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison have both announced free Estate Planning Workshops in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

            No, you won’t see respected lawyers Max Bahner (Chambliss) or Wayne Grant (GK&H) standing on a tractor-trailer touting their legal talents by claiming they can save you a truckload of money in your estate plans.

            Richard Bethea and Greg Willett (Chambliss) and John Konvalinka (GK&H) will not don Superman capes and claim they are “Best of the Best” in the yearly lucrative promotion by our local newspaper.  However, ask any knowledgeable local attorney and they will inform you that Richard, John and the other lawyers on their staffs that work with them are capable and tough in the representation of their clients.

            Their newspaper ads are in compliance with the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision that theoretically limited lawyer advertising to “non-deceptive” efforts to inform the “public’s right to know” of the availability of legal services.  No exaggerations of how much money they can get the client or how easy it is to make insurance companies and insurance defense lawyers tremble in their shoes at the mention of their names will be made. No catchy jingles or over statements of their records and accomplishments will be made. 

            The two firms are doing it the way it was intended in 1978.  Many of the advertisements in other areas of the law are good comedy but bad for the potential clients and their families.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

How Low Will They Go?

Monday, January 21, is a national holiday celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the giants in the civil rights movement.  Courthouses, post offices and my business are closed in recognition of Dr. King’s life.  Yet on Saturday, January 19, 2019, I received an email from an entity called Law Practice CLE announcing their “Martin Luther King Day Special” that ended on January 21, 2019, and gave a 15% discount on “All Law Practice CLE Courses” with the coupon code “DREAM!”

            This opening announcement was followed by a listing of ninety-eight (98) “Self-Study Courses Available” beginning alphabetically with “A Complete Guide to Reliable Living Traits” and ending with “Setting A Winning Law Firm Internet Strategy in 2018.”

            It closes with the pitch that “Law practice CLE is a national continuing legal education company designed to provide education on current trending issues in the legal world to judges, attorneys, paralegals, and other entrusted business professional.

            The obvious lack of taste in their commercial advertisement involving a national holiday is comparable to the minority lawyer advertisers who engage in deceptive tactics well beyond what was intended in Justice Blackmon’s limited opinion in 1978 allowing self-promoting of their legal services.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Non Deceptive But Image Enhancing Ads

In 2010 my fellow anti-lawyer advertising contact in the New York Personal Injury Blog published an article and picture soliciting personal injury and DUI cases by depicting a potential client standing in front of a urinal at a South Carolina restaurant.  With tongue in cheek he stated that “Advertising over a urinal has one thing going for it: A captive audience.”

            Surprisingly he received emails upholding the use of such ads by comparing the ad to “those of sports teams or dentists or others.”  Perhaps one distinction is that attorneys are regulated by the Rules of Courts and governing bodies that other professions do not have to comply with.

            The blogs author responded that such ads could be seen by potential jurors and adversely affect their ability to render a fair and impartial verdict in light of the tasteless advertisement.

            Eight years later I am informed that a local popular sports bar/restaurant in the Chattanooga area had such an ad in the men’s room.  (I don’t know if they have lengthened their happy hour and/or lowered their beer prices to encourage more trips to the John.)

            I leave it up to the reader to decide whether Justice Blackmon in the 1978 opinion intended that releasing ones bladder into a urinal falls into the non-deceptive advertising category.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

New Year’s Resolution for 2019

1.     I will continue the Silly Blog in spite of the vocal criticism of the few financially involved advertisers and the silence of the vast majority of non-advertising attorneys who allow their old and prospective new clients to be taken from them;

2.    I will continue to expose any “deceptive” advertising techniques that are based on misrepresentations of any lawyer’s accomplishment not based on results or ability;

3.    I will continue if asked to encourage the Tennessee Supreme Court, Tennessee General Assembly, and Board of Professional Responsibility to examine the current rule pertaining to lawyer advertising in an effort to attempt to make certain that any representations made to the general public are truthful, non-deceptive, and are in the best interests of the individuals needing legal services;

4.    I will continue to have our firm engage in charitable events for philanthropic purposes in a proper and dignified manner and not just to benefit the firm financially;

5.    I will continue to give credit to law firms that advertise in a professional and non-deceptive manner and do not demean the image of trial lawyers;

6.    I will continue to urge my brothers and sisters in the legal community to forward the Silly Blog to their clients, friends, and acquaintances to inform the intended beneficiaries of legitimate legal advertising.  They can claim it as their authorship without any reference to the creator of the Silly Blog.

            I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

I’m Not Completely Alone

When I started the “TruthInLawyerAdvertising.com” blog (the silly blog) I had hoped the members of the Bar who are opposed to “deceptive” advertising would join in our Don Quixote crusade to inform the public that glitzy self-serving media ads are not the best way to select legal representation in serious matters.

            Unfortunately the multi-billion dollars involved in lawyer advertising, inertia by Bar Associations, governing bodies and supervising authorities have not resulted in any large ground swell of support by the legal community for our quest.

            Of course I have received many private congratulations from some of my legal acquaintances but most attorneys opposed to “deceptive advertising” have been complacent and allowed the media advertisers to steal their regular clients primarily in personal injury cases under the guise that their commercials make them more qualified to handle a serious injury or death case.  In reality the cost of the expensive radio, television, website, etc. campaigns put great pressure on said law firms to settle cases without going to trial and receive less than full value of the case based on the severity of the case, liability, and collectability of any settlement or verdict.

            Attorney Eric Turkewitz of New York is the Don Quixote of anti-lawyer advertising in that area entitled “New York Personal Injury Law Blog” and has won American Bar Association Journal Awards for several years. He combines his critique of lawyer advertising with some promotion of his personal injury practice while I have chosen to keep the blog separate from the firm website.

            Eric’s most recent featured article involved activist preacher Al Sharpton’s daughter getting a $95,000.00 settlement in a slip and fall case.  He also was the source on the prior article dealing with the selection of a female puppy, Lucy Davis, being selected for exclusive membership in the highly publicized “Lawyers of Distinction.”

            Keep reading Eric’s blog and our “silly blog.”  More importantly forward them to not only your clients but also your friends and acquaintances.  It might even result in you retaining part of your legal practice rather than losing important cases to the self-proclaimed experts.

            I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Best of the Best—Thomas A. Caldwell

In a previous article, I have listed the qualities of what I think a “Best Lawyer” should possess to represent the legal profession in an ethical manner rather than glitzy and often deceptive legal advertising.  On December 12, 2018, our profession lost one of the individuals that in my opinion qualify for being one of the “Best.”

            On page B2 of the December 13, 2018, edition of the Chattanooga Times Free Press and in the obituary section of the Chattanoogan.com contains a descriptive article on the life of this unique person who passed away at the age of ninety-four.

            Tom was a devoted husband, father of four children and thirteen grandchildren, Veteran of World War II, Harvard University law school graduate, church member and outstanding corporate, tax and estate planning attorney at three of Chattanooga’s leading law firms.  His family, personal, legal, military, religious and civic duties are too many to list in this article and the reader is directed to his afore-mentioned obituary.

            As a member of the Chattanooga Jaycees he was one of the original founders in 1953 of the Orange Grove Center in an abandoned grammar school in downtown Chattanooga for the mentally and physically handicapped.  For sixty-five years he fought to help build the Center into its present facility in Glenwood where the needs of clients are supported and treated.  His efforts to protect the rights of those clients on both local and state levels are unsurpassed.   A normally quiet individual, he could be combative and forceful in the protection of Orange Grove’s clients. 

            For thirty-five years I have had the privilege of working with Tom on many legal matters pertaining to the Center.  His enthusiasm, ethical standards and love of Orange Grove on a pro bono basis exemplifies how he is imminently qualified to be one of the “Best of the Best” in the legal community.

            His death leaves a void that is impossible to fill.

            I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Pay It Forward

Two of the biggest spending local lawyer advertising firms in Chattanooga take great pride in showing their concern for the less fortunate by publicly giving away a few hundred dollars on either television or in their ad with our local newspaper which has selected them as “Best of the Best” for the past four years.  The other big media spender likes to publicly hand over the money to some needy person or organization on television in the amount of $500.00.  

 Both advertising law firms have adopted the term “Pay It Forward” it their ads.

When the two firms are not trying to encourage local injured parties (only certain personal injury cases accepted) not­ to hire the “Billboard Boys from Birmingham” they proudly offer to donate a $75.00 Food City Gift Card from November 11-20 to some lucky citizens.

While such small gestures of philanthropy are appreciated by the recipients, it does not in any way reflect on the ability (or lack thereof) to successfully receive full value in damages in an injured party’s personal injury case.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Lawyer Advertising & Marketing Symposium

On Friday, November 8, 2018, beginning at 1:00 p.m. a four hour panel discussion will be held at the University of Tennessee College of Law on the subject of lawyer advertising since 1978 when the topic was legalized by the United State Supreme Court in the landmark decision of Bates v. State Bar of Arizona.   Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice and head of the Student Advocacy Center at UTK, Professor Penny White, will moderate the discussion on the negative and positive aspects of the publics enhanced “right to know” of the availability of lawyer services through advertising and marketing.

            Jerry H. Summers of Summers Rufolo & Rodgers, P.C. will give his opinions as to the good and bad of the subject and how it has changed the practice of law since the Bates decision.  Many of these views are already stated on his independent blog “truthinlawyeradvertising.com” that has been in existence for over a year.

            A representative of one of the large law firms in the area will speak on the subject of how they market the firm to the public under the standards of Bates and subsequent appellate decision by courts and actions of bar associations across the country.

            As of this date no one has come forward to speak on the more questionable area of lawyer advertising in the area of personal injury law as it applies to injured parties (plaintiff) as a result of car/tractor trailer accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, etc.

            Dual Continuing Legal Education credit has been approved for the symposium in the event any attorneys need to comply with the yearly (CLE) requirements established in this area of the legal system.

            UTK Law students have been invited to attend for what hopefully will be a lively discussion on how the topic of allowing attorneys to market their services in the media to the public has affected the image of the legal profession.     

            Additional information can be obtained from the UTK College of Law, 1505 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-4241.

Vintage Ads

I will continue to include vintage ads in the blog to illustrate that “deceptive advertising” existed before the Bates decision in 1977-1978, but was not allowed in the legal community.

AVVO Returns

After running into legal difficulties because of some of its techniques in dealing with consumers and potential attorney listings, Avvo has settled one of the controversies with the New York Attorney General’s Office by paying a fine of $50,000.00 and changing their consumer disclosures about how attorneys are rated and how Avvo posts legal forms to the website.

            The agreement follows the purchase of the company by Internal Brands in April 2018 from Avvo founder Mark Britton and four other chief executives.  The company’s use of a 1-10 rating system had been criticized and accused of favoring attorneys that update and build Avvo profiles.

            One of the requirements of the agreement with New York State is that Avvo must inform potential consumers that attorneys who upload a resume or submit a self-serving profile must state on Avvo’s website that those lawyers receive higher rankings on the 1-10 scale than lawyers who do not.  Whether the return of Avvo to the billion dollar lawyer advertising arena is for the benefit of the consumer seeking quality representation, attorneys who pay to list their alleged legal credentials or the financial benefits of Avvo is a decision that must be made by each.

            While it is legal to consider Avvo and other legal advertising services and the selected favorable client reviews it is respectfully suggested that potential clients for legal services solicit the opinions of other individuals in the community as to the qualifications of non-Avvo subscribing attorneys and then make their decision as to who they want to represent them.

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

He’s Back-Silly Blog

            After a respite of about 3 months for a hip replacement, hand injury and a non-invasive procedure for the problem that all males over the age of 50 incur during their lifetime, I am now ready to return to the rigors of a trial practice and to reinstate the “truthinlawyeradvertising.com” blog.  Said blog has received praise from many of the traditional non-media advertising lawyers and criticism from the radio, television, and website advertisers who often overstate their ability, often engage in deceptive practices and do not achieve full value settlements or jury verdicts for their clients because of their extensive advertising budgets.

            When I started the blog I was well aware of the risks involved in the changing legal environment since the U.S. Supreme Court made its ill-fated decision in 1978 in Bates by a 5-4 vote to allow lawyer advertising under the guise of the “public’s right to know” to find a lawyer.

            The purpose of the blog was and will continue to be the dissemination of truthful and non-deceptive information about the subject of lawyer advertising that will allow any potential client to make an informed decision as to who they should select to represent them or a loved one in the field of personal injury, bankruptcy, social security or criminal law which seem to be the areas involving the most coverage in lawyer advertising.  

            After some unsuccessful attempts to control the use of deceptive advertising several state regulatory bodies have abandoned most efforts to control often false and misleading representations as to quality of attorneys legal services, fairness of verdicts or settlements, and other factors that enter in to whether a client received a fair and just result in their case.

            On a personal note, criticism of the blog by a few of the largest radio and television advertisers has resulted in the blog being banned from dissemination to the membership of one of the lawyer associations in the State of Tennessee 

            I still support the group now and will do so in the future but will not abandon my beliefs that the advent of lawyer advertising since 1978 benefits only insurance companies, insurance defense lawyers, advertising agencies in several areas, and some lawyers who misrepresent their credentials and accomplishments and do not have the best interests of the clients that we have taken an oath to represent.

            The blog is back!  If you believe it is truthful, beneficial and helpful in your law practice send it to as many individuals or organizations possible.  I grant you permission to claim credit for its contents in any way!

            Here is the next blog entry on the resurrection of Avvo in New York State! 

I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!

Deceptive Ads Span the Test of Time!

Deceptive Ads Span the Test of Time!