Lawyer Ranking Site Avvo Sued By Another Upset Lawyer

from the and-avvo-hits-back dept

We've seen plenty of stories of review or ranking sites that get sued by people upset about their reviews, but one such site that seems to get extra special attention is Avvo -- and that's because it's a ranking and review site for lawyers. Soon after the site was launched a few years back, it was sued -- leading a judge to dismiss the suit, pointing out that rankings are opinions and opinions are protected by that old First Amendment thing. However, it appears another lawyer is suing the site, claiming libel among other things.

Avvo hit back in a blog post highlighting some history that the lawyer in question, Joe Davis, probably doesn't want to generate any more attention (such as being "twice convicted and spent eight days in the pokey") and suggesting that it's the desire to hide this info that is the real reason behind the lawsuit.

So, how does Davis try to get around the whole "opinion/free speech" thing? Well, he tries to find some factual errors in his profile -- such as the page claiming that he practices "100% employment/labor law," which is apparently not the case. That said, it's difficult to see how such an error amounts to libel. Also, apparently Avvo has the wrong address, which Davis suggests is a "misrepresentation." He also claims that Avvo's "failure to take into account" Davis' Board Certification (which is mentioned over and over and over and over again in the complaint as if that, alone, conquers all) is a "misrepresentation" as well.

From there, Davis suggests that various fluctuations he saw in his ratings over a period of a few days "obviously occurred based solely" on his "level of participation" on the site, rather than "what is in the public record." Davis also gets upset that his profile points people to other, competing lawyers, and claims that Google forbids a similar practice. Unfortunately, I believe Davis is simply wrong on this point:
Google's AdWords' policies prohibit AdWords users from doing the very same thing that Avvo.com does--that is, to hijack a competitor's name as a key search word to trigger the appearance of a competitor's ad next to the competitor's search results.
But Google actually does allow that and has fought an awful lot of lawsuits that it's usually won, saying that such a practice is perfectly legal. In fact, Google just recently changed its European policy to have it match the US policy in allowing greater use of trademarked terms in AdWords.

There's also a suggestion that by using Davis' photo from his own website, Avvo may have violated copyright and local Florida statutes on using images of lawyers. The full complaint is a bit rambling, and at times rather informal, which makes for some fun reading, but seems like the sort of thing that a judge might not appreciate:
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Filed Under: defamation, lawyers, opinions, rankings
Companies: avvo


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Sep 2010 @ 4:52am

    What does Google's AdWords' policies have to do with what Avvo.com does. is Avvo.com owned by Google... is the rest of the world now under Google's AdWords' policies for some reason?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Sep 2010 @ 5:39am

    If the guy had any merit or skill he wouldn't be concerned about what a random website claims about him. The fact that he keeps yapping about his credentials screams "I have a law degree, I am more important than u!!111".

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 3 Sep 2010 @ 6:47am

      Re:

      Seems to me that this also highlights his own insecurities about his abilities.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Sep 2010 @ 6:48am

    Normally I think these Avvo suits are meritless, but this guy claims that Avvo intentionally publishes false and misleading information in order to coerce lawyer participation. In that sense, his allegations are somewhat different from the usual 'I-don't-like-my-Avvo-rating' cases. (But are Davis's allegations true? Who knows. I have my doubts.)

    I agree with the first AC that it is curious that Davis seems to think Google's AdWords policy somehow creates a de facto rule as to what is appropriate. And in any event, he's mis-stating their policy, since Google does in fact permit nominative uses.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 3 Sep 2010 @ 7:05am

    How would being "twice convicted and spent eight days in the pokey" be a problem for a lawyer? Aren't they required to sell their souls prior to passing the bar anyway? So what's a couple of convictions and jail time...I think it adds credibility.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    gyffes, 3 Sep 2010 @ 7:18am

    "That's why you're the judge...

    and I'm the law-talkin' guy!"


    *sigh*

    I really miss Phil Hartman.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Paul Alan Levy (profile), 3 Sep 2010 @ 7:41am

    Doubtful allegation

    "this guy claims that Avvo intentionally publishes false and misleading information in order to coerce lawyer participation"


    FWIW, I have received occasional solicitations from Avvo, to which I have never responded; but so far as I know it has not published anything mean about me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      interval (profile), 3 Sep 2010 @ 8:26am

      Re: Doubtful allegation

      Well, counselor, one assumes that Avvo is interested in pursing a perception of legitimacy, so baseless accusations and slanderous opinions shouldn't be par for them. Unless your a completely illegitimate and corrupt lawyer, in which case I would accuse them of being incompetent.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Hoy, 25 Mar 2012 @ 2:05pm

      Re: Doubtful allegation

      Avvo would not be writing the review, anyone that hired you would. So, do a great job and no worries....love the Constitution...free speech, truth, the good the bad and the ugly.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    The Groove Tiger (profile), 3 Sep 2010 @ 9:50am

    I'm waiting for the day someone sues RateMyPoo.com for defamation of their lovely Poo.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Sep 2010 @ 12:02am

    Lawyers will be lawyers. What do lawyers do?

    They sue of course.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    aerozol, 5 Sep 2010 @ 2:17pm

    If they bump up ratings based on if lawyers log into their site, and recruit other people to join, and drop them if they don't (and don't let users know it), this may have something to it. Obviously not a big 'have a million dollars' thing, but perhaps some policy changes might be brought up.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Conrad from Avvo, 5 Sep 2010 @ 9:21pm

    Aerozol -

    The simple act of claiming a profile absolutely has nothing to do with the Avvo Rating. The real issue here is a sanctioned lawyer trying to bully us into censoring information about his Florida State Bar disciplinary sanctions.

    -Conrad from Avvo

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    The man, 7 Sep 2010 @ 10:01am

    Funny

    Whats funny is that he admits in his lawsuit that he actively solicited client reviews which is against Florida Bar rules. Looks like another sanction coming his way.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Long Beach Lawyer, 17 Oct 2010 @ 4:22pm

    Information to the Public

    Isn't the internet for the free exchange of information, good or bad?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lawyer in Sonoma, 22 Apr 2011 @ 8:12pm

    Lawyers need something to do.

    Seems to me that many lawyers are either bored or they are trying to boost their revenue by seeking settlements.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Power Washing your Driveway, 22 May 2011 @ 7:59pm

    Cleaning it up

    I think it's funny that lawyers only know how to use their legal knowledge to get them out of a jam. I'd be interested to see what this guy is really like

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Power Washing your Driveway, 22 May 2011 @ 7:59pm

    Cleaning it up

    I think it's funny that lawyers only know how to use their legal knowledge to get them out of a jam. I'd be interested to see what this guy is really like

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Noel, 30 Sep 2011 @ 7:09am

    Sometimes it can be doubtful but since you posted a great content.I thumbs up for you man.You got a legal action.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mikaru, 8 Dec 2011 @ 2:14am

    There are instances that they uses their power in a wrong way.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Joy, 21 Dec 2011 @ 12:30am

    Who won in this lawsuit?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lady from 20x tab results, 22 Dec 2011 @ 1:24am

    My friend is working as a lawyer and must say that his rate is pretty high.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Katherine, 29 Dec 2011 @ 1:11pm

    I am sure they both think they are right.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Nicole, 14 Jan 2012 @ 12:02pm

    They are lawyers....suing is not new to them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • I am so impress with this page.The rank seems well moderated and the content that was posted is very useful.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Shine (profile), 16 Jan 2012 @ 8:53am

    Who won in this case anyway? Any updates?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Andrew, 18 Jan 2012 @ 10:24am

    Lawyers can always find grounds to sue somebody.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Matthew Horeczko, 20 Jan 2015 @ 1:10am

    Sometimes it can be doubtful but since you posted a great content.I thumbs up for you man.You got a legal action.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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