(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or her or his agent, employee or any person acting on her or his behalf, to solicit or procure through solicitation either directly or indirectly legal business, or to solicit or procure through solicitation a retainer, written or oral, or any agreement authorizing an attorney to perform or render legal service, or to make it a business to solicit or procure such business, retainers or agreements; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit or be applicable to banks, trust companies, lawyer reference services, legal aid associations, lay collection agencies, railroad companies, insurance companies and agencies, and real estate companies and agencies, in the conduct of their lawful businesses, and in connection therewith and incidental thereto forwarding legal matters to attorneys at law when such forwarding is authorized by the customers or clients of said businesses and is done pursuant to the canons of legal ethics as pronounced by the Supreme Court of Florida.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person in the employ of or in any capacity attached to any hospital, sanitarium, police department, wrecker service or garage, prison or court, for a person authorized to furnish bail bonds, investigators, photographers, insurance or public adjusters, or for a general or other contractor as defined in s. 489.105 or other business providing sinkhole remediation services, to communicate directly or indirectly with any attorney or person acting on said attorney’s behalf for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or abetting such attorney in the solicitation of legal business or the procurement through solicitation of a retainer, written or oral, or any agreement authorizing the attorney to perform or render legal services.
(3) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(4) This section shall be taken to be cumulative and shall not be construed to amend or repeal any other valid law, code, ordinance, rule, or penalty now in effect.
History.—ss. 1-4, ch. 59-391; s. 1146, ch. 71-136; s. 1425, ch. 97-102; s. 37, ch. 2006-12.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 877 - Miscellaneous Crimes
877.01 - Instigation of Litigation; Penalty.
877.02 - Solicitation of Legal Services or Retainers Therefor; Penalty.
877.03 - Breach of the Peace; Disorderly Conduct.
877.05 - Killing Young Veal for Sale; Penalty; Exception.
877.061 - Marketing Establishments; Maintenance of Scales.
877.08 - Coin-Operated Vending Machines and Parking Meters; Defined; Prohibited Acts, Penalties.
877.09 - Tampering With or Damaging Sewer Systems.
877.10 - Real Property; Dual Contracts Prohibited.
877.101 - Escrow Business by Unauthorized Persons; Use of Name.
877.13 - Educational Institutions or School Boards; Penalty for Disruption.
877.14 - Merchandising of Dogs; Required Records; Penalty for Violation.
877.15 - Failure to Control or Report Dangerous Fire.
877.155 - Report of Initial Treatment of Burn Injuries; Penalty for Failure to Report.
877.16 - Exhibition of Deformed Animals Prohibited; Penalty.
877.17 - Works to Be Submitted by Students Without Substantial Alteration.
877.19 - Hate Crimes Reporting Act.
877.20 - Local Juvenile Curfew Ordinances; Legislative Intent.
877.21 - Definitions; Ss. 877.20-877.25.
877.23 - Legal Duty of Parent; Penalty.
877.24 - Nonapplication of S. 877.22.