All News
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…
Thomas’ Views on New York Times v. Sullivan Undermine First Amendment
Daniela Abratt reflects upon how views recently shared by Supreme Court Justice Thomas may erode freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has called for a change in the entire defamation law landscape as it has existed for over 50 years. In a concurring opinion filed on February 19, 2019…
No Copyright Love for the ‘Carlton Dance’
Contrary to the perceptions of many children of the ‘90s, the “Carlton Dance”, in the eyes of the United States Copyright Office, is merely “a simple routine made up of three dance steps, the first of which is popularly known as ‘The Carlton.’” As such, the United States Copyright Office denied Alfonso Ribeiro’s (a/k/a Carlton…
2019 Repurposed DooDad Art/Sculpture Competition
The student sculptures will be on exhibit in the Florida Center during the Florida State Fair, February 7-18, 2019. Thomas & LoCicero is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor for Hillsborough County’s 7th Annual Repurposed Doodad Art/Sculpture Competition for children and teens in grades K-12. Open to public, private, charter and home schools, the…