Cambre v. Lazenby: Lessons on Illegal Solicitation

Cambre v. Lazenby: Lessons on Illegal Solicitation

In Cambre & Associates, LLC et al. v. Lazenby et al. (Ga. Ct. App. Nov. 3, 2025), a Georgia personal injury lawyer sued a competing firm and its “runner” over alleged illegal direct solicitation of car wreck victims—what most people call ambulance chasing. He claimed the firm’s use of runners and illegally obtained accident data gave it an unfair competitive advantage and violated criminal statutes and bar rules. The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed the trial court and dismissed the case, holding that: (1) there is no private civil cause of action for violating Georgia’s criminal anti-solicitation laws or bar rules, and (2) the lawyer’s RICO claim failed because any harm he suffered (lost potential clients) was too indirect and speculative. The Court made clear that policing this kind of misconduct is the job of the General Assembly, prosecutors, and the State Bar, not competing lawyers through civil lawsuits.

Why Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Should Stop Using “Runners” and Illegal Solicitation Tactics

Illegal use of “runners” and direct solicitation of accident victims is a legal, ethical, and reputational minefield in Georgia. Recent case law shows that ambulance chasing won’t just attract clients—it can attract prosecutors and the State Bar.

What Is a “Runner” in Personal Injury Law?

In the Georgia personal injury world, a “runner” is a non-lawyer who:

• Tracks down accident victims using crash reports or non-public data
  
• Shows up at homes, hospitals, or calls victims out of the blue
  
• Pushes them to sign a fee contract on the spot
  

This kind of direct, in-person or live phone solicitation—especially using non-public data—is exactly what Georgia’s criminal statutes and Bar Rules are designed to prevent.

What the Cambre & Associates v. Lazenby Case Shows About Runners

In Cambre & Associates, LLC et al. v. Lazenby, a plaintiffs’ lawyer alleged:

• A rival Atlanta law firm was “literally ambulance chasing,”
  
• Using a “runner” to obtain private accident victim information before it was public,
  
• Then calling and visiting victims to pressure them into signing a fee contract.
  

He sued under:

• A supposed “right to do honest business,” and
  
• Georgia RICO, based on “computer invasion of privacy” (accessing personal data without authority).
  

The Georgia Court of Appeals:

• Held there is no civil cause of action for “right to do honest business.”
  
• Rejected any private right to sue simply because someone violates criminal solicitation statutes or Bar Rules.
  
• Found that the lawyer’s alleged injury—lost potential clients and fees—was too indirect to support a RICO claim.
  

Key Legal Takeaway

The Court did not bless runners or ambulance chasing. Instead, it said:

• Courts can’t invent new civil remedies for this conduct.
  
• The proper remedy lies with the Georgia General Assembly and the State Bar, through discipline and prosecution, not private civil suits by competitors.
  

Why Ethical Georgia PI Lawyers Should Reject Runners

Runners Create Criminal and Disciplinary Exposure

Using runners can implicate multiple Georgia laws and rules, including:

• OCGA § 33-24-53 – Criminalizes certain solicitation of accident information for financial gain.
  
• OCGA § 15-19-55 – Bars non-lawyers from directly soliciting legal business for lawyers.
  
• Georgia Bar Rule 7.3 – Restricts live, in-person and telephone solicitation of prospective clients.
  

Even though Cambre & Associates v. Lazenby said competitors can’t sue you for money over this, a firm using runners is still exposed to:

• Criminal investigations,
  
• Bar complaints and discipline, and
  
• Potentially disqualification and loss of license.
  

Runners Destroy Trust With Juries and Judges

Jurors instinctively distrust ambulance chasing. If it comes out in discovery that your firm uses runners to pressure injured people at home or in the hospital, you risk:

• Damaging your client’s credibility,
  
• Undercutting your firm’s narrative about “putting clients first,”
  
• Giving defense counsel a powerful theme: “This case started with pressure, not with justice.”
  

An extra signed case today is not worth years of reputational damage in front of judges and jurors.

Runners Undermine the Profession’s Reputation

The Court of Appeals explicitly acknowledged the importance of deterring improper solicitation and noted that these tactics harm both:

• The public, who deserve informed, unpressured choices, and
  
• Ethical lawyers, who play by the rules and lose business to those who do not.
  

Every time a firm uses runners to chase cases, it:

• Reinforces the worst stereotypes about PI lawyers,
  
• Makes juries more skeptical of all injury claims, and
  
• Pressures honest lawyers to choose between losing market share and lowering their ethical standards.
  

Runners Don’t Create Sustainable, Referral-Based Growth

High-pressure solicitation might generate short-term volume, but it is poison for long-term growth:

• Clients brought in through fear or pressure are less loyal,
  
• Less likely to leave positive reviews, and
  
• Less likely to refer to friends and family.
  

Ethical firms grow by:

• Providing excellent communication,
  
• Educating injured people about their rights, and
  
• Building a reputation that generates referrals and organic search traffic—not by chasing ambulances.
  

For Accident Victims: Why You Should Avoid Any Lawyer Who Uses Runners

If you or a loved one gets into a wreck and:

• A “representative” suddenly calls you out of nowhere,
  
• Someone shows up at your home or hospital bed with a ready-to-sign contract,
  
• You feel rushed or pressured to sign “right now”…
  

That is a red flag.

You are entitled to:

• Time to recover,
  
• Time to research experienced, ethical Georgia personal injury attorneys, and
  
• A calm, informed decision—not a hard sell at your front door.
  

FAQs – Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers and Runners

Is it legal for Georgia personal injury lawyers to use runners?

Certain forms of direct solicitation and use of non-public accident data for financial gain can violate Georgia criminal statutes and Bar Rules. Even if a competitor can’t sue you for money over it (as in Cambre & Associates v. Lazenby), you can still face criminal and disciplinary consequences.

Does the Cambre & Associates v. Lazenby case approve the use of runners?

No. The Court simply held that a competing lawyer cannot create a new civil cause of action to sue another firm over runners. The opinion stresses that enforcement belongs to the General Assembly and the State Bar, not private civil RICO suits.

Can a client fire a lawyer who used a runner to sign them up?

Yes. Clients generally have the right to terminate an attorney and seek new counsel, particularly if they feel they were pressured or misled at the outset of the relationship.

What should an ethical Georgia PI firm do instead of using runners?

• Build relationships with medical providers and community organizations within ethical limits,
  
• Invest in transparent online marketing and SEO,
  
• Provide educational content that helps accident victims understand their rights,
  
• Focus on service, communication, and results that naturally generate referrals.
  

Contact Haug Barron Law Group today or request a free consultation online.