Can the Bar Regulate Private Lawyer Referral Services?

That's the question raised by this interesting complaint filed by Greenspoon Marder senior partner Richard Epstein on behalf of the The Center for Legal Justice, and pending before Judge Middlebrooks:

What does explain The Florida Bar’s action against TCFLJ is a publicly aired animus by the State of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater against for-profit LRS and his intent to “ban the [private, for-profit] services.”

a. In other words, The Florida Bar has made a conscious decision to regulate where it has no authority to regulate, by targeting businesses it (and the State of Florida) views unfavorably, such as TCFLJ, for annihilation, all in blatant disregard of TCFLJ’s constitutionally protected commercial free speech rights and contractual relations.

b. In fact, The Florida Bar News reported that The President of the Bar publicly announced his intention to reign in private referral services, in favor of nonprofit lawyer referral services administered by local bar associations. That is, The Florida Bar is promoting its own lawyer referral services at the expense of legitimate commercial services such as TCFLJ.

BTW, the Center may or may not operate at 866bank.com, which is currently unavailable.