Privacy Law

Crash survivor sues publisher, claims he was exploited by book’s false claim of visit to heaven

Updated: An Ohio man who survived a severe car crash as a boy in 2004 has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was financially exploited and his privacy invaded by a book’s false claim that he visited heaven. The plaintiff, William Alexander “Alex” Malarkey, filed the suit on Monday against…

Apr 12, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Roe v. Wade had broader impact than the public realizes, says author of ‘Beyond Abortion’ (podcast)

In the 45 years since Roe v. Wade was decided, it has been a focal point for both anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights groups. But the opinion in the 1973 case has also been used by activists of liberal, libertarian and conservative ideologies to develop privacy arguments for issues ranging from access to experimental drugs to euthanasia to personal data security to sex worker rights.

Apr 11, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

US urges public disclosure of Harvard documents in group’s suit alleging admissions bias

The U.S. Justice Department is urging a federal judge in Boston to allow public release of documents in a student group’s suit claiming bias against Asian-Americans in the admissions process. The DOJ recommended that U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs not keep the admissions data under seal, report CNN, the National…

Apr 9, 2018 11:19 AM CDT

After passage of new law, Microsoft and US tell Supreme Court that email access case is moot

The federal government and Microsoft have informed the U.S. Supreme Court that their pending dispute over prosecutors’ access to emails stored overseas is now moot. The parties said the case is moot because of a new law signed by President Donald Trump on March 23, report the National Law Journal…

Apr 4, 2018 3:33 PM CDT

Judge tosses 1 charge against lawyers and client over Waffle House CEO sex tape

A judge in Fulton County, Georgia, on Tuesday tossed one of two charges against two lawyers and a client accused of making an illegal sex tape in hopes the video could be used in a future lawsuit. Judge Henry Newkirk dismissed a charge of conspiracy to commit unlawful eavesdropping against…

Apr 4, 2018 1:35 PM CDT

North Carolina police issue broad warrants for data from Google users near crime scenes

Police in North Carolina are using search warrants to collect cellphone location data of individuals near a crime scene.

Mar 27, 2018 1:26 PM CDT

Use copyright law to battle mugshot extortion

After her DUI charge was dropped, Julie Cantu thought her nightmare was over. Then, she went on a date.

Mar 27, 2018 9:23 AM CDT

Illinois’ most populous county files new suit over Cambridge Analytica’s use of Facebook data

The county that includes Chicago may be the first government entity to sue over Cambridge Analytica’s use of Facebook data for use in federal election campaigns. Cook County, Illinois, claims in a lawsuit filed on Friday that the use of information from more than 50 million Facebook users, including millions…

Mar 26, 2018 2:17 PM CDT

Revealing identity of $560M Powerball winner would be invasion of privacy, judge rules

A New Hampshire judge has ruled that a woman who won $560 million in a Powerball jackpot is entitled to keep her identity secret. Hillborough County Judge Charles Temple ruled Monday that requiring the woman to reveal her name would be an invasion of privacy, report the Washington Post, the…

Mar 13, 2018 3:18 PM CDT

Companies and their lawyers brace for wide-ranging EU data-privacy law

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation requires a company to gain consent to collect data through a clear, affirmative act that is freely given, specific and informed.

Mar 1, 2018 1:40 AM CST

Supreme Court considers reach of old law in Microsoft case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday considered how to apply an old law to new technology during oral arguments on the ability of federal prosecutors to use a warrant to obtain a drug dealer’s emails stored on a Microsoft server in Europe.

Feb 28, 2018 8:46 AM CST

Lawyer who once moonlighted as a stripper uses indicted governor’s argument in seeking a pardon

A lawyer who moonlighted as a stripper while in law school is asking Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens to pardon him for secretly recording sexual encounters—and he’s using the governor’s own arguments. California lawyer Paul Henreid had taken a guilty plea in 1999 under Missouri’s invasion of privacy law. It’s the…

Feb 28, 2018 8:00 AM CST

Missouri governor criticizes ‘reckless liberal prosecutor’ who charged him

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is blasting the prosecutor who obtained a felony indictment against him for invasion of privacy. Greitens is accused of trying to blackmail his former mistress by taking a partially nude photo of her without her knowledge and consent, report the Springfield News-Leader, USA Today, Courthouse News…

Feb 23, 2018 9:08 AM CST

In new Citizens United case, 2nd Circuit upholds donor disclosure requirement

A federal appeals court has rejected a First Amendment challenge to New York regulations requiring charities to disclose their donors. The New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday in a suit by Citizens United, the group that successfully challenged restrictions on corporate political spending in the U.S.…

Feb 16, 2018 3:54 PM CST

Verizon worker told customer to hire ‘big shot lawyer’ over nude photo migration, suit says

A man has filed a $4 million lawsuit against Verizon Wireless that claims his fiancée’s nude photos inexplicably ended up on the phone of another person. Plaintiff Jeff Smith of Canby, Oregon, says Verizon promised that personal photos would be stored on protected and secure servers, but those assurances were…

Feb 15, 2018 10:53 AM CST