MediaLawLetter December 2012

N.Y. Sup.         Manhattan Judge Dismisses Libel Claim Brought by Brooklyn Judge………………………………………………………03
                    Columns About Judicial Scandal Published Without Actual Malice
                    Martin v. Daily News LLP

1st Cir.            Court Affirms Dismissal of Libel and Related Claims Against Barbara Walters ………………………………………07
                    Old Incident Recounted in Memoir  Led to Lawsuit
                    Shay v. Walters

N.Y. App.            Court Analyzes Defamatory Meaning on the Web……………………………………………………………………………………08
                    Reinstates Claim over Severed Horse Head Allegation
                    LeBlanc v. Skinner

V.I.                Summary Judgment  for Virgin Islands Newspaper Affirmed………………………………………………………………….09
                    Public Official Plaintiff Failed to Show Actual Malice
                    Joseph v. Daily News Publishing Company et al.

E.D. Mich.        Fair Report Privilege Applies to Police Officers’ Statements to Press……………………………………………………….10
                    Privilege Extends to More Than Just Official Police Statements
                    DMC Plumbling and Remodeling LLC v. Fox News Network LLC

U.S.                Supreme Court Denies Cert. in Publicity and Eavesdropping Cases…………………………………………………………11
                    Plaintiffs’ Petitions in Hustler and Alvarez Cased Rejected
                    Toffoloni v. LFP Publishing Group, LLC; ACLU of Illinois v. Alvarez

Tex. App.            Summary Judgment for Texas Broadcaster Affirmed………………………………………………………………………………12
                    Truth, Lack of Actual Malice, Opinion Protect TV News Report
                    Garza v. Eagle Creek Broadcasting
 
REPORTERS’ PRIVILEGE

Wis. Cir.            Journalists Avoid Subpoenas in Raw Milk Case………………………………………………………………………………………13
                    Wisconsin Shield Law Tested
                    State v. Hershberger

LEGISLATION

                    Congress’s Media Agenda for the Year Ahead…………………………………………………………………………………………15
                    2013 Promises to Be an Interesting Year

ENTERTAINMENT

Colo. Dist.        Forum Clause of TV Release Enforced Despite Claims of Coercion………………………………………………………….19
                    Plaintiff Alleged He Signed Release Under Duress
                    Distel v. Duane Chapman, et al.
INTERNATIONAL

                Australian Court Finds Google  Liable for Defamatory Search Results…………………………………………………………20
                What Does This Decision Mean for Internet Service Providers?
                Trkulja v Google Inc and Google Australia Pty Ltd 

INTERNET

                2012 MLRC Survey of Actions to Identify Newspaper Website Commenters…………………………………………………27
                Newspapers See High Rate of Success in Protecting Identity of Commenters

ACCESS

E.D. Pa.        Pennsylvania Federal Court Rules Press Has Right to View Execution………………………………………………………….33
                History and Logic Support Press’s Right of Access
                The Philadelphia Inquirer v. Wetzel

MLRC

                MLRC’s 2012 Defense Council Section Meeting……………………………………………………………………………………………34

ETHICS

                Ethics and the Use of Contract Attorneys……………………………………………………………………………………………………..38