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10 Insurance Topics for Non-Insurance Lawyers
This article aims to provide non-insurance practitioners with a basic framework for understanding how insurance policies are written, how to identify coverage and exclusions, and what to expect from an insurance company in cases of disputed coverage.
Federal Court Dismisses Tara Reade’s Privacy Suit Against New York Times
The court granted The Times’s motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) and to strike the claims under California’s anti-SLAPP law.
Judge SLAPPs “Brooklyn Land Shark” Suit Against Daily News
Is it defamatory to refer to a real estate investor who has been repeatedly sued for taking advantage of vulnerable homeowners as a “Land Shark” who has been slammed as “a wolf preying on sellers”? A New York state trial judge has answered that question with a resounding “no.”
Catholic Church Subpoena for Berkshire Eagle’s Confidential Sources
On October 3, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge issued a revised order protecting Berkshire Eagle investigations editor Larry Parnass – at least for now – from having to identify his confidential sources for a story about clergy sex abuse in western Massachusetts.
MLRC and the Pandemic: Great Opportunities Amidst Crisis
MLRC's Covid-era Zoom calls have featured prominent speakers, timely journalistic issues, cutting-edge legal matters, and some just plain fun topics to discuss.
Ohio Senate Candidate Can Run, But Not Hide
Can a candidate for the United States Senate from Ohio and his soon to be ex-wife file a divorce action in a county in which neither resides and have a compliant judge issue an order prospectively sealing the entire case record? Spoiler alert, the answer is no.
New York Court Upholds First Amendment Right of Access to Jury Selection in Upcoming Trump Trial
Judge Gonzalez appears to be the first New York state court judge to recognizing a presumptive First Amendment right of the public and press to attend jury selection in civil trials.
Journalist Jim DeRogatis Avoids Having to Testify in R. Kelly Criminal Trial
The federal judge presiding over the recent criminal trial of singer R. Kelly in Chicago quashed a defense subpoena for the testimony of Jim DeRogatis, the journalist and author who first exposed R. Kelly’s abuse of young women.
Connecticut Supreme Court Allows Defamation Action Based on Public Hearing Statements
Giving new analysis to the well-accepted rule that statements in quasi-judicial proceedings cannot be the basis for defamation, the Connecticut Supreme Court held that a party could maintain a defamation action for statements made in a planning and zoning commission public hearing.
Hawaiʻi Third State To Pass Uniform Protection for Public Expression Act
The new law represents a major gain for civil rights particularly at a time when independent-minded media and public interests groups are outgunned by well-oiled capitalists and dark money.