IN THE NEWS: Attorney David Atkins Comments on Decision in Total Attorneys Case

In "Round Two Begins In Legal Advertising Debate:  Grievance Panel Ruling Doesn't Mark End of Web Site Controversy," attorney David Atkins commented on the January 15 summary decision of a Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee hearing panel granting the motion to dismiss argued by David at a November, 2009, hearing in Hartford.  The Committee dismissed disciplinary charges against five Connecticut bankruptcy attorneys who paid to be listed on a promotional website run by Chicago-based Total Attorneys.

David and attorney Marcy Tench Stovall successfully argued on behalf on three of the five Connecticut attorneys whose participation in Total Attorneys' web-based listings was claimed to violate the restrictions on attorney fee sharing.

"My clients believed from the outset they made a good-faith effort to comply with the restrictions on lawyer advertising," said David.

Nationwide, there have been more than 500 complaints against lawyers in 47 states who participated in Total Attorneys' web-based marketing programs.  Connecticut is the first state in which an attorney disciplinary tribunal - after a hearing - issued a decision on the complaints.