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Stagecoaches or newspapers? Jim Lake assesses issues in U.S. Supreme Court social media cases
In a Florida Law Review article, TLo’s Jim Lake examines the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending cases concerning Florida and Texas social media law, including labels the justices might apply. Using an analogy one justice recently borrowed from Benjamin Franklin, Lake writes that social media companies are less like stagecoaches and more like newspapers.
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President’s Right to “Block” Users on Twitter Trumped by First Amendment
Daniela Abratt reflects on the strength of the First Amendment to uphold poliltical discourse in the realm of social media. From the traditional town hall to the digital Twitter universe, the First Amendment right to engage in political discourse was recently upheld in the social media realm. In a resounding unanimous decision, the U.S. Court…
TLo Supports the 2019 Florida Media Conference
Attorney Susan Tillotson Bunch and attorney Linda R. Norbut participates as panel members that looks at social media within the confines of the law and medical marijuana. The Florida Media Conference was held July 10-12 at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg. An early morning session on July 12, 2019, featured Susan Tillotson Bunch, attorney with Thomas…
Gregg Thomas Named to 2019 Legal Elite Hall of Fame
Mr. Thomas has enjoyed a stellar legal career over many years, and he continues to be one of the country’s leading media and First Amendment lawyers. Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to announce that founding shareholder Gregg D. Thomas has been named to the prestigious “2019 Florida Trend’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame.” The Hall of Fame honors long-term…
Attorney Linda Norbut Moderates Panel at National Convention
Thomas & LoCicero proudly supports the Association for Women in Sports Media. Thomas & LoCicero Attorney Linda R. Norbut moderated a panel this past weekend at the 2019 Annual Convention of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM). Ms. Norbut led the Investigative Journalism panel in a discussion of the Free of Information Act and public…
Thomas & LoCicero Attorneys Named to 2019 Florida Super Lawyers
Florida Super Lawyers is a statewide rating service of attorneys that is held by only 5% of the Sunshine State’s attorneys. The 2019 Florida Super Lawyers edition has been released. Attorneys from Thomas & LoCicero were included in the statewide ranking for lawyers in excellence in the following practice areas: Susan Tillotson Bunch: Media &…
TLo Achieves Victory in Public Official Defamation Action
A Florida judge grants summary judgment for high-profile defamation case involving a former state attorney. On May 29, 2019, a Florida judge granted Waterman Broadcasting Corp. (“Waterman”) and reporter David Hodges’ (“Hodges”) motions for summary judgment against former State Attorney Stephen B. Russell, a public official, in a defamation action arising out of their news…
Communication with Third Parties and Attorney-Client Privilege
Linda Norbut reflects upon a recent trademark infringement suit and the issue of attorney-client privilege. A magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has found that the attorney-client privilege was waived when a client’s public relations representatives were looped in on email threads between client and attorney, rendering…
Non-Profits Ask Supreme Court to Decide What States Can – and Cannot – Copyright
Daniela Abratt reflects on the conflict between the First Amendment and a state’s ability to copyright the text of its laws. What, if anything, can a government copyright? A handful of non-profit organizations are pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to answer that question and provide uniform guidance to states with varying definitions. While it is well-established that…
NY Appellate Division Affirms Discovery Order in High-Profile Defamation Case
The legal team from Thomas & LoCicero represented the Geragos & Geragos law firm in this appellate victory which upholds the trial courts’s decision in its entirety. The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, today affirmed a decision in favor of the law firm of Geragos & Geragos, a defendant in a defamation action being…
Congratulations, Sun Sentinel
Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal is bestowed upon well-deserved team at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to congratulate the South Florida Sun Sentinel for its win of the distinguished Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service “for exposing failings by school and law enforcement officials before and after the deadly shooting rampage…
New Associate Joins Legal Team in Tampa
Former legal fellow with the Brechner Center joins Thomas & LoCicero. Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to announce that Linda R. Norbut has joined the firm’s Tampa office as an Associate. Her practice concentration is in media and communications law, including defamation and invasion of privacy. She also focuses on business litigation and intellectual property matters. Prior…
TLo Attorneys Receive Top Honors
Tampa Magazine includes five TLo attorneys among its 2019 Top Lawyers ranking. Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to announce that five of its attorneys have been recognized as Top Lawyers in their respective practice areas by Tampa Magazine. The 2019 Top Lawyers from TLO include: – Gregg D. Thomas, Media Law Mediation …
U.S. Supreme Court Issues Two Unanimous Decisions Interpreting The Copyright Act
Linda Norbut reflects upon how the Copyright Act will be impacted by two recent Supreme Court decisions. In a pair of unanimous decisions construing the Copyright Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has tightened pre-suit registration requirements and the costs that can be awarded in infringement litigation. In Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corporation v. Wall-Street, LLC,, the Court…
TLo Obtains Summary Judgment for The New York Times and Eric Lipton in UF Professor Defamation Lawsuit
The legal team from Thomas & LoCicero represented the Times in this victory which upholds protected speech and the fair report privilege. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida granted summary judgment to The New York Times Company and journalist Eric Lipton. The lawsuit, Kevin Folta, Ph.D., vs. The New York Times…