First Amendment

FIRM WINS LANDMARK CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT OPINION

Levy, Ram & Olson's Karl Olson and Erica Craven recently won a landmark California Supreme Court opinion for the Contra Costa Times holding that the public has a right to know the salaries of public employees. The Supreme Court ruled, "Openness in government is essential to the functioning of a democracy." For a link to the opinion, see Internat. Federation of Prof. & Technical Engineers, Local 21, AFL-CIO v. Superior Court, (Contra Costa Newspapers) (Supreme Court of Californa, Case No. S134253, Aug. 27, 2007) (42 Cal.4th 319); for media coverage of the case, see:

Thomas Peele, "High court sides with Times," Contra Costa Times

San Francisco Chronicle

The Los Angeles Times

San Jose Mercury News

Press Democrat

Peter Scheer, "State Supreme Court draws a line on access," Sacramento Bee

"Slam dunk - State Supreme Court comes to the defense of transparency," Press Democrat

Levy, Ram & Olson LLP is one of California's top First Amendment and media law firms. Karl Olson and Erica Craven are the partners in charge of this area of the firm's practice. The firm represents major newspapers, including The San Francisco Chronicle, The Contra Costa Times, The Sacramento Bee and other McClatchy newspapers, The Los Angeles Times, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, The Recorder, Bloomberg News, and other clients in matters including defamation litigation, access to public records and court proceedings, pre-publication review, reporter's shield law matters, and privacy claims. The firm recently won a landmark California Supreme Court decision for its client The Contra Costa Times holding that the names and salaries of public employees are public information. Mr. Olson has successfully defended dozens of defamation lawsuits in his 25 years of law practice. The firm's efficient and skilled representation has led one client to say, "often outmanned but never outgunned."

Selected Reported First Amendment & Media Law Decisions:

Internat. Federation of Prof. & Technical Engineers, Local 21, AFL-CIO v. Superior Court (Contra Costa Newspapers) (Supreme Court of California, 42 Cal.4th 319 (successfully represented Contra Costa Times in seeking public access to salaries of public employees).

Carver v. Bonds, 135 Cal.App. 4th 328 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005) [obtained dismissal of libel lawsuit against San Francisco Chronicle and star athletes].

In re Elijah S., 125 Cal.App.4th 1532 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005) [represented San Francisco Chronicle in establishing right of access to child protective services records for deceased juveniles].

California ex rel. Lockyer v. Safeway, Inc., 355 F.Supp.2d 1111 (D. Cal. 2005) [granting Los Angeles Times' motion to unseal the Mutual Aid Pact entered into by grocery stores in the 2003-2004 Southern California grocery store strike and lockout].

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. v. Delfino, 35 Cal.4th 180 (Cal. 2005) [successfully represented media amici in case establishing that appeal of motions to strike under anti-SLAPP statute automatically stays proceeding].

Intel Corp. v. Hamidi, 30 Cal.4th 1342 (Cal. 2003) [represented former employee in successfully challenging tort claims and striking down injunction restricting his speech].

City of Cotati v. Cashman, 29 Cal. 4th 69 (Cal. 2002); Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc., 29 Cal.4th 53 (Cal. 2002); Navellier v. Sletten, 29 Cal. 4th 82 (Cal. 2002) [successfully represented media amici in related cases determining application and scope of anti-SLAPP statute].

Cal. State Univ., Fresno Ass'n v. Superior Court, 90 Cal. App. 4th 810 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001) [represented amici California Newspaper Publishers Assn supporting newspaper's successful request for release of information on seat license agreements under California Public Records Act].

The Recorder v. Commission on Judicial Performance, 72 Cal.App.4th 258 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999) [Commission required to reveal to the public commissioners' votes on disciplinary and other proceedings].

Briggs v. Eden Council For Hope & Opportunity, 19 Cal. 4th 1106 (Cal. 1999) [represented media amici in case ensuring broad construction of anti-SLAPP statute].