[RPPTL LandTen] Ethics question

[Alberto M Cardet]

My humble opinion, it is an ethical violation as the lawyer is (1) providing the client financial assistance and (2) as a marketing ploy it seems like the lawyer is paying for clients, money costs money, by getting the money to the plaintiff quicker, by advancing the court registry funds the lawyer is conferring a benefit to the client or client’s manager in exchange for their business.

 

As lawyers we can advance litigation costs to a certain point.  The Bar recently disciplined a lawyer for among other things paying for a client’s appellate attorney’s fees, the Bar found that by paying fees to another lawyer to prosecute an appeal on behalf of a client the lawyer was assisting the client financially.

 

You can always get an ethics opinion by calling the Bar’s ethics hotline.

 

From: landten-bounces at lists.flabarrpptl.org [mailto:landten-bounces at lists.flabarrpptl.org] On Behalf Of Harry Heist
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 12:22 PM
To: 'RPPTL Landlord Tenant Committee'
Subject: [RPPTL LandTen] Ethics question

 

Hello All,

 

The main eviction attorney in Orlando is fronting the property manager money that is in the court registry when they do a Stip or it is awarded at trial. When the money is disbursed from the registry to his firm, which may take a couple weeks, he then just keeps the money. 

 

He does this as a marketing tool as an apartment manager's bonus is often based on money collected each month.

 

It this ethical? I have my doubts. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Harry

 

LAW OFFICES OF 
HEIST, WEISSE, DAVIS & WOLK P.A.
PH: 1 800 253 8428
FAX: 1 800 367 9038
"Serving the Property Management Professional"
Website:  www.evict.com <http://www.evict.com/>  
Email: harry at evict.com

THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL, ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED, AND INTENDED FOR THE PERSONS NAMED ABOVE ONLY.  ALL OTHER USE, COPYING, OR DISTRIBUTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

 

 

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