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[textbook]Traversing the Ethical Minefield Problems, Law, and Professional Responsibility by Susan R. Martyn (z-lib.org)(1) (1)

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discrimination, and all areas of the law in between, in which attorneys who specialize in a

particular field represent numerous, different clients. . . . Accordingly, we hold that,

pursuant to Rule 5.6 of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, a protective order

or confidential settlement agreement may not be construed or enforced to preclude an

attorney from representing a client in a subsequent matter involving similar facts and/or

parties based solely upon the attorney’s obligations to maintain the confidentiality of

information subject to such protective order or confidential settlement agreement. 13 . . .

Problems

15-2. Martyn & Fox is worried about the firm’s new lease obligation. What if the firm

says that “any lawyer who leaves the firm and practices within 100 miles must pay the firm

his last year’s draw”? “Forfeits his pension”? “Owes the firm 25 percent of all fees generated

by former Martyn & Fox clients”?

15-3. Martyn & Fox’s manufacturing client is fed up with repetitive products liability

suits over allegedly defective forklift trucks brought by one law firm over the last decade.

“Tell them we’ll settle with their latest client for an extra $100,000, if they promise never

to sue us again,” CEO tells our lawyer. Is this a great idea? What if the law firm comes back

and says: “We’ll agree not to sue again, if you hire us as safety consultants for $200,000 per

year”?

C. Advertising and Solicitation Model Rules 7.1-7.5, 8.5

Florida Bar v. Went For It, Inc.

515 U.S. 618 (1995)

Justice O’CONNOR delivered the opinion of the Court.

Rules of the Florida Bar prohibit personal injury lawyers from sending targeted directmail

solicitations to victims and their relatives for 30 days following an accident or disaster.

This case asks us to consider whether such Rules violate the First and Fourteenth

Amendments of the Constitution. We hold that in the circumstances presented here, they

do not. . . .

In 1989, the Florida Bar (Bar) completed a 2-year study of the effects of lawyer

advertising on public opinion. After conducting hearings, commissioning surveys, and

reviewing extensive public commentary, the Bar determined that several changes to its

advertising rules were in order. In late 1990, the Florida Supreme Court adopted the Bar’s

proposed amendments with some modifications. Two of these amendments are at issue in

this case. Rule 4-7.4(b)(1) provides that “[a] lawyer shall not send, or knowingly permit to

be sent, . . . a written communication to a prospective client for the purpose of obtaining

professional employment if: (A) the written communication concerns an action for personal

injury or wrongful death or otherwise relates to an accident or disaster involving the person

465

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