What the First Amendment protects – and what it doesn’t
Over the last couple of years, people have again found their voices and taken to the streets to protest…what exactly does the First Amendment protect and permit? Over the last couple of years, people have again found their voices and taken to the streets to protest through organizations like Black Lives Matter, the Women’s March,…
What’s Gone Wrong with Social Media & What Can We Do About It?
Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy published an article advocating for transparency by social media platforms. By Susan Tillotson Bunch Last week, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy published an article (Harvard Kennedy School Article March 27, 2018) advocating for transparency by social media platforms in…
Susan Tillotson Bunch Earns CIPP/US Designation
Thomas & LoCicero PL is pleased to announce that Susan Tillotson Bunch, a partner and attorney practicing full-time in its Tampa office, has been designated as a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States, “CIPP/US”, by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, “IAPP”. TAMPA, FL (July 28, 2017) —Thomas & LoCicero PL is pleased to announce that…
Does the First Amendment Protect ‘Hate Speech’?
Hate speech is still protected speech, Jim Lake says in an interview with the Alive Tampa Bay website. Hate speech is still protected speech, Jim Lake says in an interview with the Alive Tampa Bay website.
Fake News vs. Real News – and how to tell the difference
Join the Tampa Bay Times, Politifact and WFTS who will talk about what you can do to identify where a story comes from, and what’s behind it. Sometimes the stories are made up, like “Pope Francis endorses Donald Trump.” Sometimes they’re politicians’ spin, like dueling claims of lawmakers in Tallahassee and Gov. Rick Scott over…
Jim Lake comments on Madonna’s statement during historic Women’s March
Madonna’s comment about “blowing up the White House” is protected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brandenburg incitement test, says Thomas & LoCicero lawyer Jim Lake, who was interviewed by television station WTSP. Click to read more from WTSP. “It’s certainly in poor taste, but I’d also say that it’s not something that any prosecutor could successfully go after Madonna for.”
Politico cites Carol Locicero in embattled Bill to force websites to shutdown that defy expungement law
Everything in that subsection offends the First Amendment of the United States Constitution First Amendment advocates are criticizing a bill that makes it illegal to publish information or photos of someone whose criminal record has been expunged. Politico Florida reached out to Carol Locicero who stated that the bill “is so blatantly unconstitutional that it’s a waste of taxpayer…
Florida Bar Journal Credits Mark Caramanica and Carol LoCicero
Unlike many states, Florida’s version does not contain any special burden shifting, burden of proof, motion to strike, or discovery provisions to help flesh out the details of SLAPP dismissals. Further, as noted, there have been limited opportunities for Florida courts to weigh in on the earlier narrow law. Mark Caramanica and Carol LoCicero have been cited in Samuel…
TLo publishes article concerning online ratings defamation claims
Review and rating websites are largely protected from liability under the Communications Decency Act. James McGuire, Deanna Shullman and Allison Simpson have co-written an article in the ABA quarterly journal, “Communications Lawyer,” assessing how courts view defamation claims based upon online rating websites. Read more from the American Bar
Jim McGuire Comments on Policy Governing City Workers Who Speak To The Media
Jim McGuire recently commented on the rules that recently changed about how St. Petersburg employees can interact with the media. It was an expansion of an existing policy created a decade ago and had no punitive language. “The reality is they don’t want people to say anything against the picture they’re trying to paint.” Click here…