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DeSantis defamation laws also bite conservative outlets

donal brown April 4, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ legislation making it easier to sue news outlets for defamation is encountering opposition from conservative news media who fear the possibility of libel suits that could put them out of business. (The New York Times, April 3, 2023, by Ken Bensinger) Fox is leaning on the Supreme Court decision Times v. Sullivan as its only chance to survive a direct hit in its defense against a $1.6 billion lawsuit by Dominion

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Judge unimpressed with Fox defense in Dominion defamation

donal brown April 4, 2023

Fox lost a round in its defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems as the judge sent the case to trial, ruling that Fox aired statements about Dominion that were clearly not true but had yet to show that Fox acted with “actual malice.” (Politico, March 31, 2023, by Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney) Delaware judge Eric M. Davis was unimpressed with the Fox contention that the First Amendment protected false statements about the stolen

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Tennessee law barring drag shows put on hold

donal brown April 4, 2023

A Trump appointed federal judge put a temporary restraining order on Tennessee’s law prohibiting drag performances. The judge ruled that the law, slated to go into effect April 1, was too vague. (USA TODAY. April 2, 2023, by Micaela A. Watts) The law criminalized drag shows in public venues or where children could see them. Federal district judge Thomas Parker wrote, “If Tennessee wishes to exercise its police power in restricting speech it considers obscene,

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California open government roundup: Lawsuit charges Orange Unified with Brown Act violations

donal brown April 2, 2023

A parent sued the Orange Unified School District for alleged violations of the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, by failing to give adequate notice for a meeting on January 5, providing an inadequate description of the items up for discussion and conducting serial meetings. (The Orange County Register, April 1, 2023, by Roxana Kopetman) State Senator Anthony Portantino introduced SB 411 to allow neighborhood councils, boards and commissions in Los Angeles to continue

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