Rights

Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights in Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge in Pensacola has rejected a plea from the Escambia County School District to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its removal of several books from its shelves. The books in question include “The Bluest Eye,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and “The Kite Runner.” U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell issued a terse order on Wednesday, allowing claims of viewpoint discrimination and denial of the right to receive information under the First Amendment. However, he did reject an equal-protection claim. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors whose books were affected, and parents … Read more

Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban to Continue, Protecting Free Speech Rights

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the Escambia County school district violated free speech rights by removing and restricting books in school libraries. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, five authors, and seven parents, seeks the return of all challenged and banned library books to the shelves. During a hearing at the federal courthouse in Pensacola, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II listened to arguments from both sides regarding the dismissal of the case. Wetherell ultimately decided to move the case … Read more

Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit, Upholds Free Speech Rights in Landmark Ruling

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SOUTH BEND, Indiana – The controversial lawsuit filed by Tamara Kay against The Irish Rover, a student newspaper at the University of Notre Dame, has been dismissed by Judge Steven David. The suit had accused the paper of defamation, but the judge ruled that the claims made by Kay failed to meet the legal requirements for defamation. The Irish Rover had responded to the lawsuit by filing an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion. This motion is designed to protect individuals from being intimidated or silenced through litigation when exercising their First Amendment rights. … Read more

Property Management Company Settles Federal Lawsuit for Violating Rights of Navy Sailor under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

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Newport News, VA – McGowan Realty LLC, which operates as RedSail Property Management, has settled a federal lawsuit in response to allegations of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The lawsuit accused the company and one of its landlord-homeowners of imposing charges and additional rent on a Navy sailor in Virginia Beach who received permanent change of station orders. The settlement, amounting to $13,225.65, was reached after a 14-month legal battle in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, service members are allowed to terminate a … Read more