Bill > SB174

This bill prohibits "lead generation legal marketing," which is defined as any marketing where an attorney or law firm pays a third party for information about potential clients or their legal issues, often involving the sale of this information to multiple firms and potentially containing inaccurate details. The bill declares this practice deceptive because it misleads consumers into believing they are interacting with an attorney or law firm when they are not, and it can involve tactics like "bait-and-switch" or impersonation, harming both consumers and attorneys. Traditional legal marketing, where the attorney or law firm is clearly identified, is contrasted with this prohibited practice. The bill allows for civil actions with damages of $10,000 per violation plus attorney fees, and criminal actions for violations that constitute crimes like fraud or criminal impersonation, to be enforced by the Attorney General or district attorneys. Exceptions are made for individuals authorized to practice law in Colorado, those working on their behalf with clear identification, and non-profit organizations providing legal services.