Friday, July 11, 2008 Cebu lawyers condemn Manila colleagues for ‘ambulance-chasing’
LAWYERS here are condemning and calling unethical a Manila-based law firm for advertising its services, particularly how it can help the claimants of the mv Princess of the Stars, in a local daily.
Lawyer Briccio Joseph Boholst, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter, called the move “a form of ambulance-chasing” and said it is in violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Rule 3.04 states that “A lawyer shall not pay or give anything of value to representatives of the mass media in anticipation of, or in return for, publicity to attract legal business.”
“Several lawyers have already been disbarred for this (violating the code),” he said, adding that other lawyers are already contemplating on filing charges.
Solicitation
“This kind of lawyering is definitely not welcome here. It is giving lawyers a bad name,” he added.
The IBP Cebu chapter, headed by lawyer Noel Adlawan, has also issued a statement to “condemn the highly unethical and unprofessional act of client solicitation.”
“The act is demeaning and a serious affront to (the) dignity and honor of the legal profession,” the statement said.
The half-page advertisement, which came out in Sun.Star Cebu last Wednesday, was addressed to “Princess of the Stars claimants.” It offered help in processing claims and filing suits and gave out numbers people could call.
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Boholst, in an interview yesterday, traced the advertisement to the Manila-based Linsangan Law Firm run by an IBP Manila IV chapter member who justified the advertisement by saying their services are for free.
They’ll get a cut only when a claim gets released.
Lawyer Pedro Linsangan, in a report, said if claimants get a Cebu-based lawyer, they would have to pay an acceptance fee.
But this, to Boholst, is not the point.
For a lawyer to advertise his services, Boholst said, is “clearly out of bounds” and “clearly prohibited under our ethical standards.”
And as far as free legal assistance is concerned, Boholst said the IBP Cebu and Cebu City chapters are already extending free legal assistance to “whoever passes the means and merit test.” (KNR
