Q: I was fired for making comments about my employer on Facebook. My page does not note where I work or who I work with. It is viewable only to friends and my Twitter page is accessible only to those who “follow” me. My comments were vague regarding my wanting to be ethical and honest and that I was being pushed around because my budget was being cut. I had 16 people on my page
Tobacco interests won a ruling in federal court that they have a constitutional right to run billboard ads advertising cigarettes in Worcester, Massachusetts. The town had passed an ordinance banning the ads. The ruling found that the city ordinance was not content neutral and thereby violated the First Amendment rights of the tobacco industry. -db From the Courthouse News Service, April 13, 201, by Rose Bouboushian. Full story
A U.S. district court ruled a former policeman can continue a civil lawsuit against a Louisiana police chief for violating his First Amendment rights. The policeman was arrested for criminal defamation for sending an e-mail to a local newspaper criticizing them for not reporting the chief’s alleged involvement in another officer’s DUI arrest. -db From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, March 23, 2012, by Andrea Papagianis. Full story
A Idaho billionaire Frank VanderSloot has made legal threats against journalists and bloggers writing about his politics and business practices. He recently sent threatening letters to Mother Jones and Forbes to force them to temporarily remove unfavorable coverage. -db From a commentary for the Electronic Freedom Foundation, March 2, 2012, by Trevor Timm. Full story
The 8th U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals found that police had not violated protestors ‘ First And Fourth Amendments rights when they arrested 400 people at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The court cited widespread violence and vandalism in saying police were justified in conducting mass arrests to restore order. -db From City Pages, January 13, 2012, by Aaron Rupar. Full story