1. Access to public meetings
2. Access to public records
3. Access to courts and/or judicial records
4. Freedom of speech/petition/assembly, etc.
5. Libel/invasion of privacy
6. News gathering torts: trespass, intrusion, etc.
7. SLAPP suits
8. Copyright or other intellectual property law
9. Shield law and other journalists' rights
10. Internet/electronic communications
Preference:
REPORTED APPELLATE DECISIONS
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21, AFL-CIO, et al. v. Superior Court of Alameda County, (Contra Costa Newspapers, Inc., et al., Real Parties In Interest), Review Granted, previously published at 128 Cal.App.4th 586 (2005) (California Public Records Act) (amici curiae briefs filed on behalf of media in trial court and California Supreme Court)
• In re Beth Willon, 47 Cal.App.4th 1080 (1996) (California reporter's privilege)
• Montana v. San Jose Mercury News, 34 Cal.App.4th 790 (1995) (commercial misappropriation)
• Freedom Newspapers, Inc. v. Orange County Employees Retirement System Board Of Directors, 6 Cal.4th 821 (1993) (California open meeting law)
• Aram B. James v. San Jose Mercury News, 17 Cal.App.4th 1 (1993) (defamation and protection of opinion)
• New Kids on the Block v. News America Publishing, Inc., 971 F.2d 302 (9th Cir. 1992) (trademark and commercial misappropriation)
• Times Mirror Company v. Superior Court, 53 Cal.3d 1325 (1991) (California Public Records Act) OTHER RECENT REPRESENTATIVE CASES
• Palo Alto Weekly v. City of Palo Alto (2005-2006). Successful California Public Records Act case to obtain records relating to the City of Palo Alto’s investigation of its utilities department following allegations that utility workers were falsifying timecards and/or performing work for private compensation using City equipment or while on paid City time.
• Mt. View Voice v. El Camino Hospital (2005). Successful California Public Records Act case to obtain a copy of the employment contract of the CEO of the El Camino Hospital.
• California First Amendment Coalition v. CalPERS (2004). Successful California Public Records Act case to obtain information about management fees paid to VC and hedge fund managers by CalPERS.
• San Jose Mercury News, Charles Schwartz, and Coalition of University Employees v. Regents of the University of California (2003-04): Successful Public Records Act lawsuit to obtain performance data regarding the investment by the university of endowment and retirement funds in privately held start-up companies and to obtain transcripts of improperly held closed sessions (including two petitions to the appellate court and two petitions to the California Supreme Court).
• Lee Holt v. San Francisco Focus LLC (2003): Successful defense of defamation action against San Francisco Magazine.
• Palo Alto Weekly v. City of Palo Alto (2003): Successful Public Records Act and Brown Act (open meetings law) lawsuit to obtain e-mails exchanged among city council members regarding agenda items for city council meetings and to obtain a summary of an improperly held closed session of the city council.
• San Jose Mercury News v. CalPERS (2002): Successful Public Records Act lawsuit to obtain performance data regarding the investment by CalPERS of retirement funds in privately held start-up companies.
• Carteena Robohm v. Lauren Gough (2001): Successful defense of slander action brought by parishioner against local priest.
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