Attorney Profiles

Dana Jane McElroy 
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida,
Partner
phone 954-703-3417
fax 954-400-5415
email Email Me

Dana J. McElroy practices at the trial and appellate levels handling a wide range of matters involving media and communications law, including defending defamation and invasion of privacy suits, pursuing access to judicial proceedings and public records, resisting subpoenas for videotape and reporter's testimony, and conducting pre-publication review of television broadcasts and news articles. Dana also regularly litigates intellectual property matters, including defending misappropriation claims, and trademark and copyright infringement actions, as well as general commercial and business litigation.

In her more than twenty years of practice, Dana has been active in professional and trade organizations focusing on communications law, in addition to teaching, lecturing and publishing. She currently serves on the Media Law Resource Center's New Legal Developments Committee, and is the immediate past Chair of the American Bar Association's Torts Trial and Insurance Practice Section's (TIPS) Media, Privacy and Defamation Law Committee. Dana is a past member of the Board of Trustees of Florida's First Amendment Foundation, has chaired the Florida Bar's Media and Communications Law Committee, as well as its annual Media Law Conference and Reporters' Workshop.

Dana is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida. A former editor of the Independent Florida Alligator at the University of Florida, Dana worked as a staff writer for the Florida Times Union and Gainesville Sun before attending law school. She also has been chosen for induction into the Independent Florida Alligator Hall of Fame.

Dana was born in Winter Park, Florida, and is a life-long Florida resident. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Florida in 1984, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1989.

Areas of Practice:
Media Law
Defamation/Privacy Defense
Intellectual Property Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Litigation Percentage:
80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Florida, 1990
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Education:
University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1989
J.D.


University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1984
B.A.
Major:  English


Published Works:
Co-Author, "Boxing Promoter Don King K.O.'d in Florida Appellate Court on Defamation Claims", Sedgwick LLP's Media Law Bulletin , September, 2010


Co-Author, "Cameras in the Courtroom", Reporter's Handbook (annual), The Florida Bar (1996 to present)


"Eleventh Circuit Rules Police Officer Cannot be Sued for Arresting News Photographer During Riot Coverage", MLRC MediaLawLetter, January, 2004


Co-Author, "Decision Revives Protection for Opinion in Florida", The Brechner Report, The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, "The Back Page", June, 1996


Co-Author, "Florida Government in the Sunshine: A Citizen's Guide", The Brechner Report, The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, 1992


"Bradley McGee Law Eases Access to HRS Records", The Brechner Report, The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, "The Back Page", January, 1991


Classes/Seminars Taught:
Facilitator, Libel Breakout Session, Media Law Resource Center Conference, 2006 - Present


The Florida Bar Media Law Conference (annual): Moderator/participant on various panels


The Florida Bar Reporter's Workshop (annual): Moderator/participant on various panels


Adjunct Lecturer, Florida International University, Annual Media and Communications Law Seminar, 1995 - Present


Adjunct Lecturer, Spring Term, University of Miami, School of Communication, Mass Media Law, 1993 - Present


Professional Associations and Memberships:
The Florida Bar Association, 2001 - Present


The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee, 1993 - 1994
Chair


The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee, 1992 - 1993
Vice-Chair


The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee, 1991 - Present
Member


The Florida Bar Media Law Conference, 1993
Chair


The Florida Bar Media Law Conference, 1997
Vice-Chair


The Florida Bar Reporter's Workshop, 1990 - Present
Co-Chair


American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law
Member


American Bar Association Torts Trial and Insurance Practice Section's (TIPS), 2010 - Present
Chair, Media, Privacy and Defamation Law Committee


Media Law Resource Center New Developments Committee
Member


The First Amendment Foundation, 2004 - 2006
Member, Board of Trustees


Campus Communications, Inc., 1983 - 1984
Member, Board of Directors


Campus Communications, Inc., 1987 - 1989
Member, Board of Directors