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Associated PressA Fort Lauderdale practice's TV ads likening its associates to pit bulls are okay, a judge rules.
FORT LAUDERDALE - The 1-800-PITBULL ad can stay.
Broward County Court Judge William Herring ruled that a Fort Lauderdale law firm can advertise its phone number in that way and display a logo of a spike-collared pit bullterrier, despite objections from the Florida Bar.
Herring said the Pape & Chandler law firm's television commercials fall under constitutionally protected free speech. He rejected the Florida Bar's assertions that using the image of "a ferocious animal" in the commercials violates state laws regulating legal advertisements.
The qualities the lawyers link to pit bulls are "desirable traits in attorneys," Herring said.
The law firm specializes in motorcycle crash litigation. Attorney John Pape said the pit bull symbolizes the firm's "loyalty to our clients and to each other and tenacity, determination and aggressiveness in representing our injured clients."
The Bar filed complaints with the Florida Supreme Court over the ads, and Herring was assigned to referee the cases. The Bar now must decide whether to appeal Herring's decision.