Defamation / First Amendment / Media

The Firm represents media and commercial clients in the defense of defamation actions arising both from libel and slander allegations in federal and state courts. Another important aspect of Brunini’s First Amendment practice is its work in the access area.  Through use of the federal Freedom of Information Act, as well as Mississippi’s Public Records and Open Meetings Acts, the Firm’s team of lawyers interacts with public bodies, the Mississippi Ethics Commissions and the courts, to gain access to information vital to clients from public agencies.  The Firm also regularly represents clients with regard to advertising, circulation and related issues.

Representative Matters

• The Firm represents the Gannett River States Publishing Corp. d/b/a The Clarion-Ledger and The Hattiesburg American; Raycom Media, Inc. d/b/a WLBT and WDAM; Saga Broadcasting, Inc. d/b/a WXVT;  Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. d/b/a The Laurel Leader-Call and Meridian Star; and the Mississippi Center For Freedom of Information, Inc. in media and First Amendment matters.

• Represented Raycom Media, Inc. d/b/a WDAM, television station, in an action seeking to vacate an order by a Youth Court Judge prohibiting the station from showing alleged physical abuse by jailers.  The Mississippi Supreme Court agreed with the station that to prohibit showing of the video was an unconstitutional prior restraint on its ability to publish truthful information of public significance.

• Represented Gannett River States Publishing Corp. d/b/a The Clarion-Ledger in an action in which is sought to quash a subpoena issued by a reputed Ku Klux Klan leader to obtain FBI files in the possession of the newspaper obtained from a confidential source.  The United States District Court of the Southern District of Mississippi granted the newspaper’s motion.