{"id":5261,"date":"2006-04-11T20:15:11","date_gmt":"2006-04-12T00:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/04\/11\/panthers-next-target-for-flor"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:00","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:00","slug":"panthers-next-target-for-florida-bar-ad-counsel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/04\/11\/panthers-next-target-for-florida-bar-ad-counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"panthers next target for Florida Bar Ad Counsel?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

Muzzle<\/font><\/a> tov, to <\/font>Brett<\/font><\/a> and <\/font>Mitchell<\/font><\/a> Panter of the Miami (Florida) <\/font>law <\/font>
\nfirm of <\/font>Panter, Panter and Sampredo<\/font><\/a>. The Florida Bar Association may <\/font>
\nsoon make the Panter brothers famous<\/font> — as either heroes or martyrs <\/font>
\nin another attorney advertising Free Speech battle waged by the Bar’s <\/font>
\nDignity Police<\/em>. <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"PanterBrett\" & \"PanterMitchell\" “panterPantherRN” <\/font>
\n Brett & Mitchell Panter<\/font><\/em> <\/font><\/p>\n

According to a <\/font>new posting<\/font><\/a> at the website of <\/font>Pape & Chandler<\/font><\/a>, the <\/font>
\nnow [in]famous “pit bull lawyers” [many prior<\/font><\/a> <\/font>posts<\/font><\/a>]<\/font>:<\/font><\/p>\n

\n“We recently spoke with the person in charge of lawyer <\/font>
\nadvertising with the Florida Bar about the propriety of the <\/font>
\nlion’s heads in logos, and he told us something to the effect <\/font>
\nthat lions are not as vicious as American Pit Bull Terriers, but <\/em><\/font>
\npanthers are vicious and they are investigating the panther logo<\/em>. <\/font><\/font>
\nThe conversation went from ridiculous to sublime. Upon hearing <\/font>
\nthose assertions we had to ask the representative of the Florida <\/font>
\nBar if he would rather take his chances with a pit bull or a lion, <\/font>
\nwe heard crickets on the other end of the phone.” (emphasis <\/font>
\nadded):<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In addition to a pair of similar panthers (on an urn, I believe) in their masthead,<\/font><\/p>\n

here’s the footer on the PP&S website:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"PanterPantherR\" PANTER PANTER & SAMPREDO<\/strong> \"PanterPantherL\"<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arne C. Vanstrum<\/font><\/a> is Advertising Counsel for The Florida Bar. We mentioned him <\/font>
\nin <\/font>a post<\/font><\/a> a couple days ago, when — with tongue meant to be in cheek — we asked <\/font>
\nour readers to compare the ferocity-combativeness-quotient of the Panter website’s<\/font>
\npanther images with the sleepy doggie head used in Pape & Chandler’s campaign.<\/font>
\nUnfortunately, in the highly irrational and subjective world of the Bar’s Dignity Police, <\/font>
\nit is darn hard to spoof reality. <\/font><\/p>\n

We don’t know, of course, whether Mr. Vanstrum was revealing (confidential) infor-<\/font>
\nmation about an actual investigation by FBA’s Advertising Counsel office. Although <\/font>
\nf\/k\/a<\/em> wouldn’t wish a disciplinary fight with the numbskulls of FBA and Florida’s high <\/font><\/font>
\nCourt on Brett and Mitchell Panter, there are a few advantages to having such an <\/font>
\ninvestigation:<\/font><\/p>\n

“PanterPantherLN”<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\"tiny The Florida “bar” might wake up to the silliness of all this dignity regulation<\/font>
\n(or more likely the vulnerability of many self-respecting and even respected <\/font>
\nfirms to arbitrary investigation and aggravation) and push for the adoption of <\/font>
\nsound, modern (constitutional) advertising rules, such as those in the ABA <\/font>
\nModel Rules (2004), which states <\/font>in <\/font>Rule 7.1<\/font><\/a>, the reasonable proscription:<\/font><\/p>\n

\n“A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about <\/font>
\nthe lawyer or the lawyer’s services. A communication is false or mis-<\/font>
\nleading if it contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or <\/font>
\nomits a fact necessary to make the statement considered as a whole <\/font>
\nnot materially misleading.”<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

and then cautions [<\/font>Comment<\/font><\/a> 3 to Rule 7.2] that “Questions of effectiveness <\/font>
\nand taste in advertising are matters of speculation and subjective judgment,” <\/font>
\nand warns that bans against “undignified” advertising “would impede the flow <\/font>
\nof information about legal services to many sectors of the public” and “assumes <\/font>
\nthat the bar can accurately forecast the kind of information that the public would <\/font>
\nregard as relevant.”<\/font><\/p>\n

\"PanterPantherRN\"<\/font><\/p>\n

\"tiny The Florida Supreme Court might come to its senses. Or, maybe <\/font>
\nseek insight from their Carolina brethren on the topic of panthers<\/a>. <\/font>
\n[okay<\/a>, <\/font>not likely<\/font><\/a>]<\/font><\/p>\n

\n– This raises the question whether, like obscenity, <\/font>
\ndignity is defined by local standards. <\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"tiny The United States Supreme Court could accept a case with less emotional <\/font>
\nbaggage than one involving pit bulls, and re-assert free speech rights for <\/font>
\nlawyer advertising that is neither misleading nor deceptive, but which merely <\/font>
\noffends the ego, sense of dignity, or pocketbook of certain well-placed bar <\/font>
\nmembers. <\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is even one advantage here for the Panter Firm that Marc Chandler and John <\/font><\/p>\n

Pape did not have in their “pit bull” battle with the Florida Bar Association — any <\/font><\/p>\n

“panther” advertising investigation and litigation will almost by necessity help make <\/font><\/p>\n

“Panter” a household word (think satellite offices!).<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“panterPantherLN” “panterPantherRN”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Are there any lawyers in Florida thinking about launching new animal-related branding <\/font><\/p>\n

or <\/font>marketing activities? Before you do, you better get your species and breeds in <\/font><\/p>\n

order and — more important<\/em> — make sure you don’t have any powerful enemies in the <\/font><\/p>\n

Florida Bar Association. [See the new webpage<\/a> at Pape & Chandler, describing the <\/font><\/p>\n

genesis and evolution of their battle with FBA.] <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

“tinyredcheck” Jeffey Harlan Penneys, Esq<\/a>, Philadelphia personal injury and <\/font><\/p>\n

Dog Bite Lawyer<\/font><\/a>, should be quite happy he chose to settle down in <\/font><\/p>\n

Pennsylvania to practice law, rather than Florida. <\/font>PA has<\/font><\/a> the model <\/font><\/p>\n

rules version of lawyer advertising regulation, described above. If <\/font><\/p>\n

the Florida Bar Folk thought this<\/a> little guy way “ferocious”:<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“pitbullLogo”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

just what<\/em> would they make of this<\/a>?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“dogBiteJD”<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> [via Blawg Review<\/em> Ed]<\/font> <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"tiny While we’re talking about lawyer self-image and the image<\/p>\n

of lawyers, let me point out that Overlawyered<\/em>‘s Ted Frank<\/a><\/p>\n

and Legal Underground<\/em>‘s Evan Schaeffer<\/a> continue to trade<\/p>\n

jabs relating to the Don’t Feed the Trial Lawyers<\/em> campaign<\/p>\n

of the Chamber of Commerce. They both call for Commentors<\/p>\n

to be polite, however, for which I am grateful. Although I still<\/p>\n

refuse to take sides on “tort reform as we know it,” put me<\/p>\n

in the group that thinks the Don’t Feed billboards<\/a> and ads<\/p>\n

are ugly as sin and needlessly tasteless.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For my own Don’t Feed the Lawyers Campaign<\/em>, I have always<\/p>\n

preferred the tasteful t-shirts<\/a> once available from Nolo.com<\/font><\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, self-helpers: – “don’t feed the lawyers — just say Nolo”<\/em> –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Don'tFeedNoloS\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

\"NoloSharkM\" \"NoloSharkS\" \"NoloSharkS\"<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

(from cover of Poetic Justice<\/font><\/strong><\/a><\/em>, <\/font><\/font><\/span>edited by<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Jonathan and Andrew Roth, Nolo Press, 1994):<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

spring-like day
\nthe cat grapples
\nwith a catnip bird<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\"PanterPantherR\" spring rain the cat’s pink nipples <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

wilderness trail<\/font>
\nthe manicured poodle<\/font>
\nstill on a leash <\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n
<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Carolyn Hall<\/font><\/a> <\/font><\/p>\n

“spring-like day” – <\/font><\/em>The Heron’s Nest<\/em><\/font><\/a> (Vo. VI, 2004)<\/font><\/p>\n

“spring rain” – <\/font>2003 Henderson<\/font><\/a> Haiku Competition, Hon. Men.; Frogpond<\/em> XXVII: 1<\/font><\/p>\n

“wilderness trail” – The Heron’s Nest<\/font><\/a><\/em> (II:11, Nov. 2000)<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\"dog<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

snowdrift<\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

news of a missing dog <\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

from pole to pole <\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

traffic jam<\/font><\/p>\n

a plastic dog <\/font><\/p>\n

keeps on nodding<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

evening silence<\/font><\/p>\n

cat food for the stray <\/font><\/p>\n

untouched <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Yu Chang<\/strong><\/font><\/a>–<\/font><\/font><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/font>
\n“snow drift” <\/font><\/strong>Upstate Dim Sum<\/font><\/em><\/a> (2004\/II<\/font><\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font>
\n“traffic jam” – <\/font>Upstate Dim Sum<\/font><\/em><\/a> (2002\/II<\/font><\/a>) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font>
\n“evening silence” – Upstate Dim Sum<\/font><\/strong><\/em><\/a> (2003\/I<\/font><\/strong><\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“BullG”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

it’s not swearing<\/font><\/p>\n

it’s the only language<\/font><\/p>\n

those cows understand<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

my best moo<\/font><\/p>\n

all the cows<\/font><\/p>\n

stop and look<\/font><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n\"hawk<\/em><\/font>
\n<\/font>
\nlong summer day<\/font>
\na hawk holds its place<\/font>
\nbetween the clouds<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

DeVar Dahl<\/font><\/strong><\/a> <\/font><\/p>\n

“it’s not” & “my best moos” – A Piece of Egg Shell<\/em> (Magpie Haiku Poets anthology)<\/font><\/p>\n

“long summer day” – <\/font>New Resonance 3: Emerging Voices<\/strong><\/font><\/em><\/a>; Presence <\/em>15<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0– FoxNews: Cheeta – 2003<\/p>\n

p.s. Happy Birthday to Cheeta<\/a>, Tarzan’s little buddy, who<\/font><\/p>\n

turned 74 yesterday — the oldest chimpanzee in captivity.<\/font><\/p>\n

Cheeta made me laugh a lot in my younger years (and, no, <\/font><\/p>\n

I didn’t see the movies when they premiered). <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"PanterPantherL\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Muzzle tov, to Brett and Mitchell Panter of the Miami (Florida) law firm of Panter, Panter and Sampredo. The Florida Bar Association may soon make the Panter brothers famous — as either heroes or martyrs in another attorney advertising Free Speech battle waged by the Bar’s Dignity Police. & “panterPantherRN” Brett & Mitchell Panter According […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-1mR","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5261"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12693,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5261\/revisions\/12693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}