Patron of the Arts? –

Our Chairman Thomas J. Kelly tells the story that when he first enterred the newly built courthouse to file a common-law petition opposing the construction of an office tower across the street from Orlando City Hall, it appeared odd to him that law firms were allowed to solicit within a courthouse. Black's Law Dictionary defines 'solicitation' as "an attempt or effort to gain business" and gives as an example "The attorney's solicitations took the form of radio and televison ads." Well as he entered the first floor lobby right after passing through the metal detectors, front and center was a statue on a green marble base called "Spirit Triumphant" with a bronze plaque that read,

Dedicated by

Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor and Reed P.A.

in honor of

John F. Lowndes

Founding Partner

There was also a smaller statue on the first floor sponsored by the law firm of Zimmerman, Shuffield, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A. which had on its bronze plaque

"Let us rise up and build"

Nehemiah 2:18

Dedicated by

Zimmerman, Shuffield, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A.

There was also another statue towards the elevators and a painting at both escalators and a painting at the men's restroom and a painting at the women's restroom all highly trafficed areas which were sponsored by the law firm of Gray, Harris and Robinson P.A. with each bronze plaque having

"A gift to Orange County from the Law Firm of

Gray Harris & Robinson, P.A.

In honor of its Founding Members.

Florida Statute 877.02 "Solicitation of legal services or retainers therefor; penalty" shows (emphasis added) -

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.

Our Chairman then complained to the Judicial Qualification Commission that the Chief Judge pursuant to Article V. Section 2 of the Florida Constitution should not allow a law firm to solicit within his courthouse. Next, our Chairman then complained to the Board of Orange County Commissioners who overseas the courthouse. He received two letters one from the County Administrator Ajit Lalchandani and another from Orange County Attorney Thomas J. Wilkes. Our Chairman then complained to the Florida Bar and likewise got the same response as that from the Board of Orange County Commissioners that the plaques despite having terms like "in honor of", "law firm" and "P.A" and the law firm name were on each and every plaque, in their opinion this did not constitute a solicitation.

We, the public, should ask how were these law firms from the myriad of law firms in the area selected to have their plaques displayed in a courthouse. Were there competitive bids? How long will these plaques and stautes and paintings be allowed to remain in the courthouse? Forever? It is very expensive to get your name out in the public via a billboard or the Yellow Pages. Did these law firms have to pay a fee or make a donation to the courthouse or the Board of Orange County Commissioners for this concession?

If you agree that plaques such as these should never be allowed in a courthouse, then call your District Commissioner or the courthouse itself and voice your concerns. In the eyes of Black's Law Dictionary and John Q. Public who goes to the courthouse, plaques such as these most certainly serve as solicitations and a law should be enacted to prohibit them from ever being displayed in a courthouse.