Renee Padgett


ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SCENES


March 20, 2017 Uncategorized

Following the fire in downtown Raleigh, we had an inquiry about access and the right to be on — and take photographs from — public property.  The Raleigh Police Department’s Media Policies specifically state that although access may be denied […]

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POLITICAL AD PAPERWORK


October 21, 2016 Uncategorized

North Carolina law requires newspapers accepting political ads to get and maintain certain paperwork.  political-ad-paperwork  In a nutshell, the law requires written authorization for each payment.  Payment must be in a verifiable form (i.e. not cash), and the paper must make […]

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Take Care In Structure and Placement of Online Agreements


September 28, 2016 Uncategorized

Last month, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned dismissal of a lawsuit brought against Amazon.com.  At the heart of the litigation was the question of whether the plaintiff had agreed to a mandatory arbitration clause that was […]

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Amanda Martin Addresses NC Medical Society: Physicians’ Reputations and Social Media


September 19, 2016 Uncategorized

SMVT Partner Amanda Martin is a frequent speaker on topics related to traditional and social media.  c-amanda-martin-publications-and-presentations  This past weekend she addressed the annual meeting of the NC Medical Society on the issue of how physicians can protect their reputation […]

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Celebratory Press Release Following Trial Protected By Privilege


May 20, 2016 Uncategorized

After a jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs in a false claims action, plaintiff’s lawyers issued a 3 ½ page “celebratory press release” headlined, “JM Eagle faces billions in damages after jury finds JM liable for making and […]

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NTIA Best Practices for Drones


May 19, 2016 Uncategorized

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, charged by President Obama, has developed voluntary best practices for privacy, accountability and transparency issues related to the use of drones (unmanned aircraft systems or UAS).  Recognizing the strong First Amendment interests held by […]

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NEW LOCAL RULE GOVERNING SEALING SEARCH WARRANTS


May 4, 2016 Uncategorized

Wake County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Don Stephens and Chief District Court Judge Robert Rader have signed a new administrative order relating to search warrants and the procedures for sealing warrants.  See Order:  Wake Order re Sealing  The administrative […]

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Railroad Owned by North Carolina Taxpayers Won’t Provide Records


May 3, 2016 Uncategorized

SMVT partner Amanda Martin weighs in concerning the North Carolina Railroad, which is owned by the State of North Carolina but refuses to provide records explaining how it is financing large land acquisitions. To read the Carolina Journal’s story, click […]

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Judge Orders Public Records Case Against McCrory Administration to Proceed


May 3, 2016 Uncategorized

Superior Court Judge Joe Craig, who is overseeing a lawsuit in which media companies and advocacy groups allege that Governor McCrory and several of his cabinet agencies are systematically and purposefully refusing to provide timely and complete access to public […]

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News Media v. McCrory et al.


April 28, 2016 Uncategorized

A coalition of news media and advocacy groups have sued Governor Pat McCrory and a host of state departments for alleged violations of the public records law.  Read the complaint here:  N&O v McCrory Amended Complaint

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