Download Publication<\/a><\/p>\nMLRC<\/h3>\n Bulletin: MLRC 2004 Report on Trials and Damages Trials Against Media Defendants<\/p>\n
Legislative: Legislative Affairs Update: Congress Considers Indecency BillsBroadcast Decency Enforcement Act; Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act; Congressional Research Accessibility Act<\/em><\/p>\nSUPREME COURT<\/h3>\n S.Ct.: Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Sammy \u201cThe Bull\u201d GravanoApplication of forfeiture statutes to book proceeds<\/em> State v. Gravano<\/p>\nS.Ct.: Supreme Court Rejects 9\/11 Access Appeal Deportation proceedings were closed<\/em> US v. Bellahouel<\/p>\nLIBEL & PRIVACY<\/h3>\n W.D. Mo.: Judge Issues, Then Rescinds, Prior Restraint in Libel CaseFollowing the lifting of the order, TV station identified man caught in Internet sex sting<\/em> John Doe v. KCTV-5<\/p>\nInd. Cir. Ct.: Indiana Mayor Wins Libel Trial Against Local NewspaperJury awards $235,000 in compensatory damages and punitives for publication of political ad<\/em> Shepard v. The Daily Clintonian<\/p>\nMo. Cir. Ct.: Substantial Truth and Fair Report Support Summary Judgment in Doctor\u2019s SuitCourt follows rule that language must be evaluated in context<\/em> Marylou Davis, M.D. v. KMOV-TV and Multimedia KSDK, Inc.<\/p>\nCal. App.: California Appeals Ct. Affirms Dismissal of Libel Suit Against San Diego Union-TribuneCourt finds statement concerning a person\u2019s motivation is generally a matter of opinion<\/em> Atiga v. San Diego Union-Tribune<\/p>\nOhio App.: Ohio Appellate Court Reverses Summary Judgment for NewspaperJury could find quotes were fabricated<\/em> Murray v. Beacon Journal Publishing Company<\/p>\nLa. Dist. Ct.: Louisiana Court Dismisses Lawsuit by Mardi Gras RevelerJudge suggests person riding float at Mardi Gras parade assumes risk of publicity<\/em> Johnson v. John Wiley & Sons Publishers, et al.<\/p>\nN.D. Tex.: No Jurisdiction Over German Publishers in TexasCourt finds Europe, not Texas, was the \u201cgeographic focus\u201d of articles<\/em> Fielding v. Hubert Burda Media, Inc.<\/p>\nN.Y.A.D.: Flynn on The Hot Seat in \u201cMulberry Street\u201dLibel and fraud claims continue over professor\u2019s research project<\/em> 164 Mulberry St. Corp. v. Columbia University<\/p>\nN.M.: Court Rules that One Scholar\u2019s Criticism of Another is Not DefamatoryCourt deems comments, in context of academic community, to be understood as non-defamatory<\/em> Fikes v. Furst<\/p>\nE.D. Tex.: Scott O\u2019Grady Misappropriation\/Lanham Act Case Settles During TrialAir force pilot shot down in Bosnia sued Discovery Channel under Lanham Act<\/em><\/p>\nN.J. App.: Plaintiff Must Plead Actual Malice with Specificity to Defeat Fair Report PrivilegeCourt says allowing case to continue on a mere allegation of actual malice violates free speech<\/em> Darakjian v. Hanna<\/p>\nW.D. Pa.: Bare Allegation that Corporate Officer was Responsible for Content of BroadcastIs Sufficient to Overcome Fraudulent Joinder Argument<\/em> Joyce v. NextMedia Operating, Inc., et al.<\/p>\nIll. Cir. Ct.: Newspaper Is Immune from Liability for Publishing Name of Juvenile Sex OffenderJuvenile Court Act conferred immunity for secondary release of legally obtained information<\/em> Doe v. Kankakee Daily Journal Company<\/p>\nTex. App.: Court Affirms Denial of Summary Judgment in Public Official Libel CaseRecord presented fact issues of actual malice and substantial truth<\/em> The Hearst Corporation, et al. v. Jack Skeen, Jr. et al.<\/p>\nMass. Super.: Trial Court Rules that Single Publication Rule Applies to Internet PublicationDecision continues trend seen last month in Georgia and Mississippi decisions<\/em> Abate v. Maine Antique Digest<\/p>\nREPORTER\u2019S PRIVILEGE<\/h3>\n Ala.: Judge Seeks Guidance from Alabama Supreme Court in Reporter\u2019s Privilege CaseFederal district judge asks state supreme court whether shield law protects magazine reporters<\/em> Price v. Time, Inc. and Don Yaeger<\/p>\nN.J.: Super. Rare Rejection of Reporter\u2019s Privilege by New Jersey CourtCourt orders reporter to reveal source for article in criminal case after other witnesses testify<\/em> State v. Daly<\/p>\nACCESS\/NEWSGATHERING<\/h3>\n 11th Cir.: Appeal Heard in Morris v. PGA: Are There Property Rights in Real Time Golf Scores?Outcome will significantly impact the ability of news agencies to timely report facts via Internet<\/em> Morris v. PGA Tour<\/p>\n2d Cir.: Closure of Voir Dire in Martha Stewart Trial Was ErrorSubstantial media coverage of the case was not enough to warrant wholesale closure<\/em> In re ABC Inc., et al.<\/p>\nCal. Super.: News Organizations Battle for Access to Michael Jackson Proceedings and RecordsCoalition of major media entities fight on several fronts to ensure maximum public access<\/em> People v. Michael Jackson<\/p>\nCal. App.: California Appellate Court Upholds \u2018No Cameras\u2019 Ruling in Peterson TrialFinal order entered barring television coverage<\/em> People v Peterson<\/p>\nTex.: Texas Attorney General Rules that State Access Law Limits HIPAA Privacy RuleGovernment bodies using HIPAA as a shield must reconsider disclosure<\/em><\/p>\nAla.: Court Rules that a Public Corporation is Subject to State\u2019s Open Records LawUnanimous decision applies open records law to a public corporation for the first time<\/em> Water Works and Sewer Bd. of the City of Talladega v. Consolidated Publishing, Inc.<\/p>\nN.J. Super.: Judge Orders Release of Malpractice Payment NoticesAssignment judge orders State to provide notices to local newspaper<\/em> North Jersey Media Group Inc. v. State of New Jersey<\/p>\nD.C. Cir.: Court Rejects First Amendment Right to Accompany Troops in BattleCourt found no basis for claim that military must accommodate press corps at war<\/em> Flynt v. Rumsfeld<\/p>\nCal.: Univ. of California Regents Ordered to Disclose Meeting Transcripts and Investment InfoRegents exhaust appellate options; high court upholds lower court rulings forcing disclosure<\/em> Coalition of University Employees v. Regents of University of California<\/p>\nCOPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK<\/h3>\n California: Playboy and Netscape Settle Web Trademark CaseSettlement cuts short opportunity for Ninth Circuit to consider important trademark issue<\/em><\/p>\nINTERNET<\/h3>\n 9th Cir.: DMCA Safe Harbors May Require Careful – If Not Strict – ComplianceCourt held jury could find AOL failed to implement policy against repeat infringers<\/em> Ellison v. Robertson and America Online Inc.<\/p>\nCal. App.: Update: Court Affirms Narrow Sec. 230 Interpretation on RehearingCourt held that defendants with knowledge of defamatory content not entitled to immunity<\/em> Barrett v. Rosenthal<\/p>\nCal. App.: Summary Judgment for eBAY Under Sec. 230 AffirmedArgument that defendant not covered because it does not offer Internet connection rejected<\/em> Grace v. eBAY, Inc.<\/p>\nCanada: Canadian Court Takes Jurisdiction in Internet Libel Case Against Washington PostRaises prospect of plaintiffs commencing actions abroad to take advantage of lax libel laws<\/em> Bangoura v. The Washington Post<\/p>\nINTERNATIONAL<\/h3>\n Canada: Non-Media Libel Case Cites Place of Publication for JurisdictionOntario Superior Court will hear defamation claim against NY investment company<\/em> Trizec Properties, Inc. v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.<\/p>\nCanada: Canadian Developments in Seizure of Reporter\u2019s MaterialsAnti-terror law under Constitutional scrutiny; Ontario court applies reporter\u2019s privilege<\/em><\/p>\nU.K.: Don King\u2019s Libel Suit Against NY Lawyer Can Go Forward in LondonJurisdiction based on King\u2019s general notoriety and internet \u201cpublication\u201d in England<\/em> Don King v. Lenox Lewis, Lion Promotions and Judd Bernstein<\/p>\nCanada: Alberta Court Awards Damages in Stock Chat Room Libel CaseTrial court awards $75,000 to company over series of e-mails<\/em> Vaquero Energy Ltd. v. Weir<\/p>\nU.K.: Wall Street Journal Wins Harrods Libel CaseJury returns verdict in favor of Journal in case over article likening Harrods to Enron<\/em> Harrods Ltd. v. Dow Jones & Co.<\/p>\nEurope: Right of Reply in Europe – A Bold Resolution or a Resolution Re-bowledCouncil of Europe is finalizing a draft recommendation that covers online publications<\/em><\/p>\nECHR: Austrian Journalist Wins Appeal to ECHR over Defamation ConvictionCourt rules journalist\u2019s description of politician as a \u201ccloset Nazi\u201d was protected opinion<\/em> Scharsach v. Austria<\/p>\nNEWS & UPDATES<\/h3>\n 10th Cir.: 10th Circuit Upholds Do-Not-Call RegistryCourt holds that registry is a valid commercial speech restriction<\/em> Mainstream Marketing Systems, Inc. v. FTC<\/p>\nD. Md.: UPDATE: Lawsuit Testing Limits of SEC\u2019s Power Over Publishers ContinuesDistrict court denies motion to dismiss lawsuit against financial\/investment publisher<\/em> SEC v. Agora, Inc., et al.<\/p>\nD. Neb.: Malicious Prosecution Claim Against Newspaper Publisher Survives Summary JudgmentCourt found that the publisher misled prosecutors<\/em> Lynch v. Omaha World-Herald<\/p>\nS.D. Fla.: Criminal Statute Prohibiting Disclosure of Complaints about Police Held ConstitutionalCourt rules against newspaper editor arrested for publishing report on police misconduct<\/em> Cooper v. Dillon<\/p>\nFCC: FCC Fines News Station & Radio Broadcaster for IndecencyRegulators slam broadcasters with cumulative penalty; Congress looks to increase fines<\/em> Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc; Young Broadcasting of San Francisco, Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":79,"template":"","issues-publication":[1002],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMediaLawLetter February 2004 - Media Law Resource Center<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n