Families of Orlando nightclub shooting victims sue Facebook, Google and Twitter

Families of three men shot and killed in June at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, have sued Twitter, Google and Facebook, claiming that the companies—Google by way of YouTube—allowed terrorist groups to spread propaganda, fundraise and attract new members. Officials said that Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old gunman, pledged…

Dec 22, 2016 7:30 AM CST

Former Chadbourne employee’s book announcement is short-lived

A former Chadbourne & Parke employee hasn’t had much success with his efforts to promote a new e-book about his experiences there. Chadbourne objected to the former mailroom clerk’s press release about the release of his book, entitled The Law Firm That Called Me The N-Word, the Am Law Daily…

Nov 29, 2016 7:45 AM CST

Judge tosses suit claiming wrongful death defendant was defamed on law firm website

A judge in King County, Washington, has dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of a wrongful death defendant who claims the law firm that is suing her defamed her on its website. In a decision last week, Judge James Rogers tossed the defamation suit filed on behalf of Tracy McNamara,…

Nov 23, 2016 7:00 AM CST

7th Circuit reinstates lawyer’s defamation suit over Jezebel blog comment

A Chicago lawyer who alleged he was defamed by a comment to a Jezebel blog story may pursue his claim because he alleged blog employees, rather than readers, helped create and develop at least some of the comments. The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court reinstated lawyer Meanith Huon’s defamation claim…

Nov 16, 2016 10:07 AM CST

Reporters could bolster First Amendment with libel cases against Trump, libel defense lawyer says

First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams urged other media lawyers on Wednesday to consider going on the offensive to shore up the First Amendment, possibly by bringing libel cases against Donald Trump. The Hollywood Reporter reported on Abrams’ remarks and followed up with an interview. Abrams told the publication that Trump…

Nov 11, 2016 7:00 AM CST

Jurors award $3M in defamation suit against Rolling Stone

Federal jurors on Monday awarded $3 million in damages to a former University of Virginia administrator who claimed she was defamed by a Rolling Stone article about a gang rape that was later retracted. Jurors in Charlottesville, Virginia, found that reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdely was liable for $2 million and…

Nov 8, 2016 12:24 PM CST

Jurors find Rolling Stone defamed UVa associate dean in later-retracted article about gang rape

Federal jurors in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Friday found Rolling Stone magazine was liable for defamation in a story about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia, which was later retracted. Jurors ruled for former school administrator Nicole Eramo, who had alleged she was portrayed as the “chief villain”…

Nov 4, 2016 2:23 PM CDT

After $140M jury award, Hulk Hogan settles Gawker lawsuit for at least $31M

Corrected: Gawker Media has agreed to pay at least $31 million to settle a privacy invasion case filed by Hulk Hogan over publication of a sex video. The monetary amount was revealed in documents filed in Gawker’s bankruptcy, report the New York Times DealBook blog, LawNewz and the Hollywood Reporter.…

Nov 2, 2016 12:55 PM CDT

ABA group will publish article calling Trump a ‘libel bully’

The ABA Forum on Communications Law will publish an article calling Donald Trump a “libel bully” despite reservations about partisan language cited by an ABA official. In a statement on Friday, the ABA said the forum will publish the article next week. “To be clear, the ABA did not refuse…

Oct 28, 2016 4:05 PM CDT

ABA official expressed concern but didn’t ban report calling Trump ‘a libel bully,’ spokeswoman says

Oct 25, 2016 1:48 PM CDT

Judge blocks riot charge over journalist’s protest report; prosecutor sees her as a protester

A judge in North Dakota on Monday refused to sign a document charging a radio journalist with engaging in a riot for her reporting on protests at an oil pipeline construction site. Judge John Grinsteiner found there was no probable cause to charge radio journalist Amy Goodman with rioting, report…

Oct 18, 2016 12:52 PM CDT

Times lawyer is surprised by viral response to Trump letter; he wrote it in about 45 minutes

New York Times vice president and assistant general counsel David McCraw writes dozens of letters every year responding to lawyers who are unhappy with the newspaper’s coverage. McCraw says he knew his letter on Thursday to Donald Trump’s lawyer would be different, but he was surprised by the viral response.…

Oct 18, 2016 11:55 AM CDT

Legal publication the Recorder shifts to all-digital format

The Recorder, a San Francisco-based legal publication published by ALM, is switching to an all-digital format. The Recorder’s weekly print newspaper will no longer be published, according to a press release and LawSites by Robert Ambrogi. The Recorder has published since 1857, and it is one of the oldest legal…

Oct 5, 2016 12:26 PM CDT

Ex-con fights for prisoner rights and battles censorship

Prison Legal News persists—despite attempts to ban its circulation in prisons and jails—to fight for reform from the inside.

Oct 1, 2016 4:50 AM CDT

Anatomy of an extensive default judgment

A Pennsylvania federal court case was unusual because of the staggering amount of work the judge put into explaining her reasoning in an otherwise routine default judgment. Also see our cover story: "Who's the pirate?"

Oct 1, 2016 12:30 AM CDT