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Doctors, Dentists and Vets Announce Intent to Free-Ride on the Hard Work of Lawyers

By Eric Lipman

Doctors may be better at perpetuating their own elite status than us dime-a-dozen attorneys (Seriously, if you know of any firms willing to pay a "dime" -- gambler-speak for $10,000 -- for a dozen, let's say, summary judgment briefs drafted, let me know). But deep down in places they don't talk about at parties, they know they need us. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the American Medical Association, along with its Dental, Veterinary and Osteopathic counterparts, sent a "me too" letter to the Federal Trade Commission, after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held the Commission's "Red Flag Rules," requiring businesses that accept deferred payment on behalf of clients to adopt procedures to prevent identity theft, inapplicable to those engaged in the business practice of law. The decision (PDF), in a case brought by the American Bar Association -- which I'm sure has been receiving thank-you notes from grateful solo practitioners who now need not spend a lot of time drafting identity theft detection protocols -- is worded fairly strongly in favor of the plaintiffs. Congress just plain didn't grant the FTC the authority to regulate lawyers as "creditors," says the court. For purposes of...

Full post as published by Legal Blog Watch on February 17, 2010 (boomark / email).