Lawyer Advertising Unfair Practice
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to regulate lawyer advertising in South Carolina to prevent misleading or deceptive practices. It requires attorneys to clearly disclose fees and costs when referencing settlement amounts, clarifies that past results aren't guarantees of future outcomes, and mandates specific disclosures when advertising against insurance companies or other third parties. The bill seeks to ensure that potential clients have accurate information about legal services and potential outcomes.
Key provisions
- Requires disclosure of attorney fees and litigation costs when referencing settlement amounts.
- States that past results do not guarantee future outcomes in advertising.
- Mandates specific disclosures when advertising against insurance companies, identifying the individual or business that would be named as a defendant.
- Defines false advertising as guaranteeing outcomes, suggesting past results predict future outcomes, or using unsubstantiated superlative language.
- Establishes that references to settlements must be accompanied by a clear disclosure of fees and costs.
- Allows the Department of Consumer Affairs to pursue both monetary and injunctive relief for violations.
- Prohibits private lawsuits for violations of the advertising rules.
Who is affected
- Attorneys
- Law firms
- Potential clients
- Insurance companies
- Individuals and businesses potentially named as defendants in lawsuits
Bill text
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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