A. As used in this section: 1. "Agent" means any person who acts for another at the request or with the knowledge of the other in dealing with third persons; and 2. "Runner", "capper", and "steerer" mean any person acting within this state for compensation as an agent for an attorney in the solicitation of employment for the attorney. B. No attorney shall, by means of an agent, runner, capper, steerer, or other person who is not an attorney, solicit or procure a person to employ the attorney to present, compromise, or settle a claim under the workers' compensation laws of this state. C. No attorney shall, directly or indirectly, pay or promise to pay any person, other than another attorney, any money, service, fee, commission, or other thing of value in consideration for the employment of the attorney to present, compromise, or settle a claim under the workers' compensation laws of this state. D. No person shall act or agree to act as an agent, runner, capper, or steerer for an attorney. E. Subsections B and C of this section shall not prohibit participation by an attorney in a voluntary attorney referral program including, but not limited to, referral programs operated by an association of attorneys. This subsection shall not authorize a referral program which is otherwise unauthorized under the Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court. F. Any contract for employment of an attorney secured in violation of this section shall be void and unenforceable and no attorney shall appear or otherwise provide services in an action in violation of this section. G. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of up to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for each offense, which shall not be subject to Section 101 of Title 85 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any penalties which might be imposed by the Oklahoma Bar Association or similar organization of another state or by a court when punishing for contempt or when imposing sanctions against an attorney or party.
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