SEATTLE – After just one week online, a Web site is the focus of a class-action suit.

KING

Seattle attorney Mark Britton launched a new Web site called Avvo.com.

A prominent Seattle attorney, who has taken on Enron and the tobacco industry, is now taking on the Web site that rates lawyers.

When it comes to choosing an attorney, many people let their fingers do the walking, but the phone book doesn’t give a whole lot more than a phone number.

That’s why Seattle attorney Mark Britton launched a new Web site called Avvo.com, which profiles lawyers from across the country, rating them from 1 to 10.

Avvo says its ratings are derived form a search of public records, such as state bar associations and courts. They also use published sources, including lawyers’ own Web sites, along with information supplied by lawyers.

The site also allows consumers and lawyers to post their own opinions.

"We are trying to give them the information and guidance so that they can choose the right lawyer,” said Britton.

"This is misleading,” claims Steve Berman, class-action attorney.

Berman gives the site a poor rating.

"Because the way I look at the site, it's purporting itself as a reliable rating service for lawyers, and to me that's a violation of the Consumer Protection Act because it has the capacity to deceive people because it's not reliable,” he said.

Berman says his red flag started flying after learning that some well-respected colleagues were getting poor ratings.

One of those is criminal defense attorney and lead plaintiff John Henry Browne.

“It says industry recognition 2 out of 5. He's got all kinds of awards," said Berman. "He had two clients who came into his office last week who were going to hire him and then declined because of his ratings."

Avvo stands by Browne’s rating saying it’s tied in part to an admonition from the state bar.

"While there are many good things you can know about Mr. Browne, consumers also have the right to know that he has this admonishment in his background,” said Britton.

In the end, it will be up to a federal court to weigh whether or not Avvo is legally ranking legal professionals.

There was a similar controversy surrounding a Web site that rated ex-boyfriends. Dontdatehimgirl.com allowed women to post warnings about boyfriends. A Pittsburgh man sued for defamation.

KING 5 talked to some attorneys who consider this free speech since the Web site is only a filter for others' opinions.

By the way, Steve Berman, the attorney filing the class-action suit, was rated "superb" by Avvo.