MediaLawLetter November 2009

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MLRC

MLRC Annual Dinner
William J. Brennan Jr. Award to Vaclav Havel; Panel on Arts and Social Change

MLRC’s Annual DCS Meeting
DCS President and Committee Chairs Review Year and Plans for 2010

LIBEL & PRIVACY

Ga. Sup. Ct.: Georgia Jury Returns Mixed Verdict In Libel-In-Fiction Case Involving The Novel, The Red Hat Club
$100,000 Award on Libel Claim; Jury Rejects Privacy Claim
Stewart v. Smith

Fla. Cir. Ct.: Doctor Wins $10.1 Million Jury Verdict in Florida Libel Trial
Newspaper Reported That MD Was Being Investigated for Sexual Harassment, Misuse of Money
Kennedy v. Times Publishing Co.

Pa.: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Vacates $3.5 Million Judgment Due to Appearance of Impropriety By Judges
Judge Who Presided Over Bench Trial Facing Corruption Charges
Joseph v. Scranton Times

2nd Cir.: Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Three Lawsuits Over Borat Movie
Releases Bar Fraudulent Inducement and Related Claims
Psenicska v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, et al.

Colo. App.: Libel and Emotional Distress Claims Reinstated Against Korean Language Newspaper
Court Analyzes Per Se / Per Quod Distinction; Divided Decision on Outrageous Conduct
Lee v. Colorado Times

NY Sup. Ct.: No Republication from Links and Kindle
Kindle Version a Delayed Circulation of Original Book Edition
Haefner v. New York Media

Ill. Cir. Ct.: Libel, False Light and Distress Claims Against Illinois TV Station Dismissed
Innocent Construction, Fair Report, Pleading Requirement Grounds for Dismissal
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., d/b/a WCIA 3 News v. Reddy

M.D. Fla.: $90,000 Verdict for Libelous Blog Postings About Lawyer
Post-Trial Injunction Bars Defendant from Repeating Libelous Statements
Saadi v. Maroun

E.D.N.Y.: Gross Negligence Lawsuit Against Business Magazine Dismissed
Company on Magazine’s “Hot 100” List Busted as Ponzi Scheme
Abraham v. Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

INTERNET

N.D. Ill.: Public Nuisance Complaint Against Craigslist Dismissed
Section 230 Bars Claim Over Prostitution Ads on Website
Dart v. Craigslist

REPORTERS PRIVILEGE

Ill. Cir. Ct.: Court Applies Reporter’s Privilege To Notes, Drafts, Peer Review Of Scientific Research Article
Cagney v. Johnson & Johnson et al.

ACCESS

2nd Cir.: Appeals Court Affirms Censorship of Valerie Plame Wilson Memoir
Concurring Judge Faults Majority for“Blinking Reality”; Petition for Rehearing Planned
Plame v. CIA

Ariz.: Arizona Supreme Court Holds “Metadata” Subject to Public Records Law
Records Must Be Provided in Electronic Format Upon Request
Lake v. City of Phoenix

M.D. Ga.: Reporter Barred From Tweeting Criminal Trial
Federal Ban on “Broadcasting” Extends to Twitter
U.S. v. Shelnutt

COPYRIGHT

2nd Cir.: Court Affirms Jury Verdict For The New York Times In Freelancer Copyright Case
Jury Held Use of Photos on Website Was Permissible Revision
Dallal v. New York Times Company

INTERNATIONAL

UK: Other Side of the Pond: Update on UK Media Law Developments
Super Injunctions, Libel Reform Proposals, Defamation Statistics

ETHICS

Ethical Environments
ABA Model Rules 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3