(a) Any person who (1) pays, remunerates or rewards any other person with something of value to solicit or obtain a cause of action or client for an attorney-at-law or (2) employs an agent, runner or other person to solicit or obtain a cause of action or a client for an attorney-at-law or (3) pays, remunerates or rewards any other person with something of value for soliciting or bringing a cause of action or a client to an attorney-at-law or (4) pays, remunerates or rewards with something of value a police officer, court officer, correctional institution officer or employee, a physician, any hospital attache or employee, an automobile repairman, tower or wrecker, funeral director or any other person who induces any person to seek the services of an attorney or (5) pays, remunerates or rewards any other person with something of value to induce such other person to bring a cause of action to, or to come to, an attorney or to seek an attorney's professional services shall be guilty of a class E felony. This subsection shall not apply to an attorney's engaging other or additional attorneys for professional assistance or to an attorney's referring a case to another attorney.

(b) Any person who knowingly receives or accepts any payment, remuneration or reward of value for referring or bringing a cause of action or prospective client to an attorney-at-law, or for inducing or influencing any other person to seek the professional advice or services of an attorney, shall be guilty of a class E felony. This subsection shall not apply to the referral by an attorney-at-law of causes of action or clients or other persons to another attorney-at-law.

(1957, P.A. 606, S. 1, 2; P.A. 13-258, S. 27.)

History: P.A. 13-258 changed penalties from fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 3 years to a class E felony, and made technical changes.

See Sec. 53-340a re solicitation of clients, patients or customers for attorneys or health care professionals.