Two Florida lawyers are in the judicial doghouse for billing themselves as "pit bulls."
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John Pape and Marc Chandler of Fort Lauderdale drew the ire of the Florida Supreme Court with an ad that featured a mean-looking, spike-collared pit bull and told potential customers to call "1-800-PIT-BULL."
In a 20-page unanimous opinion, the high court said the ads demeaned lawyers and ordered that Pape and Chandler be publicly reprimanded and forced to attend a bar advertising workshop, the Miami Herald said.
The court ruled the ads and phone number violate bar rules that ban ads describing the quality of the legal work offered.
Chief Justice Barbara Pariente said the ad, if allowed to stand, would open the door to images of "sharks, wolves, crocodiles and piranhas" to advertise services.