Opinion ID: 853499
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Attorney Advertising Violations

Text: Between August 1996 and December 1996, Scott practiced law with Darren under the name Cole Law Offices. They took out several advertisements in the 1996 Ameritech Yellow Pages, under the name Cole Law Offices. One advertisement contained individual color photographs of each. The caption beneath Darren's photo provided, Divorce and Family Law, Criminal Defense, Drunk Driving/DUI, Juvenile Law, and Bankruptcy. Scott's photo was accompanied by the notations Prosecutor Johnson County, Tax Law, Insurance Law, Debt Collections, and Wills & Estates. Another advertisement identified Scott as Johnson County Prosecutor. Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 7.1(b) provides: A lawyer shall not, on behalf of himself, his partner or associate or any other lawyer affiliated with him or his firm, use, or participate in the use of, any form of public communication containing a false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, self-laudatory or unfair statement or claim. Professional Conduct Rule 7.1(c) provides: Without limitation a false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, self-laudatory or unfair statement or claim includes a statement or claim which: (1) contains a material misrepresentation of fact; (2) omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statement, in the light of all circumstances, not misleading; (3) is intended or is likely to create an unjustified expectation; (4) states or implies that a lawyer is a certified or recognized specialist other than as permitted by Rule 7.4; (5) is intended or is likely to convey the impression that the lawyer is in a position to influence improperly any court, tribunal, or other public body or official; (6) contains a representation or implication that is likely to cause an ordinary prudent person to misunderstand or be deceived or fails to contain reasonable warnings or disclaimers necessary to make a representation of implication not deceptive. By identifying himself in the Yellow Pages advertisement as Prosecutor of Johnson County when in fact he was an appointed deputy prosecutor, Scott provided a false, misleading, and deceptive statement in that it contained a material misrepresentation of fact. Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(c) provides that a lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Scott violated that provision by allowing himself to be identified as the Prosecutor of Johnson County in the advertisement when in fact he was not the elected prosecutor. Darren and Scott violated Prof. Cond.R. 8.4(d), which prohibits conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, by suggesting in the advertisement that, due to Scott's identification as the Johnson County Prosecutor, employing the Cole Law Offices to defend criminal matters could result in more favorable treatment by the state in its prosecution.