Click here to download Judge Robert Lasnik's order granting Avvo's motion to dismiss the challenge to its rankings.

Federal judge: Web site is free to rate lawyers

The Web site Avvo.com is free to continue rating thousands of lawyers around the country, a federal judge has ruled, saying the scores might not be worth much, but they're protected by the First Amendment.

Read the full AP report via the First Amendment Center.

Judge rules in favor of Avvo's online rankings

U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik on Tuesday granted Avvo's request to dismiss the suit, writing in a 10-page order that the startup's attorney rating system is protected by the First Amendment.

Read the full article from the Post-Intelligencer.

Lawyers' suit over site's legal ratings dismissed

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by two Seattle attorneys against a Web site that rates lawyers, saying that its opinions are just that — opinions — and are protected as free speech.

Read the full article from The Seattle Times.

Lawyers get it, too

There are ratings and rankings of doctors, real-estate agents, car dealers, builders of buildings, business executives and other professions.

But wouldn't you know that a Web site rating lawyers would trigger a lawsuit against the alleged injustice of it all? How silly. The lawyers' ratings are just as much opinion as many of the other listings.

Read the full editorial from The Seattle Times.

First Amendment protects ratings of lawyers, judge rules

The case was dismissed last week, according to a release from the company. In his decision, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik said opinions expressed by the rating of lawyers is protected by the First Amendment.

Read the full article from The News Tribune.