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National Hispanic Journalists Conference Features Dana McElroy
Best practices in newsgathering will be highlighted by Thomas & LoCicero partner. Dana J. McElroy, partner with Thomas & LoCicero, is serving as a speaker today at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference in Miami. Ms. McElroy is presenting during a segment “Legal Workshop: Newsgathering and FOIA.” During the workshop, Ms. McElroy will focus on…
“News delayed is news denied,” argues Partner Dana J. McElroy
The conflict continues over the public’s right to know in an appellate hearing in Broward County regarding the release of exterior camera footage in the Parkland mass shooting. Attorneys for the Broward County School Board and Broward State Attorney’s Office argued in state court that the public should not see security camera footage that may shed…
South Florida Citizen Achieves Second Supreme Court Victory
As a society that champions liberty, encouraging respectful and insightful discourse with our public officials is vital to protect our First Amendment values. On Monday, June 18th, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in favor of a South Florida native for the second time in the last five years. The Court held that the presence…
New Associate Joins Legal Team in Fort Lauderdale
Former clerk with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit joins Thomas & LoCicero. Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to announce that Daniela B. Abratt has joined the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office as an Associate. Her practice concentration will be in media and communications law, including defamation and invasion of privacy. She will…
Partner Earns CIPM Designation
Firm Leader in Data Privacy Receives Additional Designation Thomas & LoCicero is pleased to announce that Susan Tillotson Bunch, a partner practicing in its Tampa office, has earned the designation of Certified Information Privacy Manager “CIPM,” by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, “IAPP”. The CIPM designation demonstrates an understanding of privacy program governance and the…
Investigative Reporters & Editors Conference Features Carol LoCicero
Libel and invasion of privacy is highlighted by founding partner. Carol Jean LoCicero, one of the founding partners of Thomas & LoCicero, served as a speaker today at the Investigative Reporters & Editors 2018 Conference in Orlando. Ms. LoCicero co-presented in a three-hour program sponsored by Knight Foundation addressing “Legal Workshop: Understanding Libel and Copyright.” During…
Thomas & LoCicero Attorneys Named to Florida Super Lawyers
Florida Super Lawyers is a statewide rating service of attorneys that is held by only 5% of the state’s attorneys. The 2018 Florida Super Lawyers digital edition has been released. Attorneys from Thomas & LoCicero were included in the statewide ranking for lawyers for excellence in the following practice areas: Florida Super Lawyers is a statewide rating…
#SaveStudentNewsrooms
Although independence is the ideal, financial difficulties are forcing some student papers around the country into making tough choices. At many universities and colleges throughout the United States, student-run newspapers are editorially overseen and financed—in part or in full—by the school itself. Other student publications are self-funded and -managed; in a word, they’re independent. These…
Civil Rights Commission Violated Baker’s First Amendment Right to Freedom of Religion
A state commission that ordered a baker to prepare wedding cakes for gay couples violated the baker’s First Amendment right to freedom of religion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled. The government must not base laws, regulations or decisions on hostility to a religion or religious viewpoint, the Court explained. In baker Jack Phillips’ case, the…
Thomas & LoCicero Hires Two Summer Law Clerks
Summer Law Clerks Join Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa Offices of Thomas & LoCicero Jacob C. Elberg and Minch Minchin have joined Thomas & LoCicero as Summer Law Clerks. A rising third year law school student at the University of Kansas School of Law, Mr. Elberg formerly served as a Judicial Intern for The Honorable Freda L.…
“Disparaging” Trademarks – The Supreme Court May Take Up a Difficult Conflict Between Trademark Law and The First Amendment
In 2014, in a widely reported decision, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office canceled several trademark registrations owned by the Washington Redskins because the term “Redskins” is disparaging of Native Americans. But last year, the Federal Circuit ruled that Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1052(a), which prohibits registration of “scandalous, immoral,…
“Revenge Porn” Law Ruled to be Unconstitutional
A Texas appeals court finds that a state statute is unconstitutional and extremely broad. An appeals court has struck down a “revenge porn” statute as unconstitutional and overly broad. So-called “revenge porn” laws are intended to prohibit use of intimate photographs to cause embarrassment. Although in some circumstances sharing such photos might support a civil…
Are Some Speakers More Equal Than Others?
Are First Amendment rights of free speech and free press contingent rights, available only to those who qualify as members of ‘the press?’ In Maethner v. Someplace Safe, Inc., the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently held that a defamation plaintiff could recover presumed damages without having to prove actual malice (i.e., that the defendant knew his statement…
TLo Partners Serve as Panelists for Technology, Media & Privacy Law Conference
Two partners with Thomas & LoCicero will be serving as panelists in an upcoming conference this Friday, April 20th in Gainesville, FL Two partners with Thomas & LoCicero will be serving as panelists in an upcoming conference this Friday, April 20th in Gainesville, FL. Carol Jean LoCicero and Mark R. Caramanica will be presenting at the Technology, Media &…