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Judge orders UNC to mediation in records dispute
In a lawsuit filed by SMVT on behalf of a coalition of 10 media organizations against UNC-Chapel Hill, Judge Judge Donald Stephens of Wake County Superior Court has ordered the parties to mediation. The lawsuit seeks access to public records related to the discipline of several university employees following the release of the Wainstein Report on…
Read MoreAmanda Martin quoted on New Bern finance director resignation
New Bern aldermen accepted an agreement with the city’s former finance director who resigned suddenly after a closed session of the Board of Aldermen. SMVT attorney Amanda Martin was quoted by the Sun Journal in their coverage: Amanda Martin, general counsel for the N.C. Press Association, said if the finance director did resign, aldermen had…
Read MoreRefusal to disclose names of those disciplined after UNC-CH fraud probe prompts lawsuit
Ten media organizations filed suit to obtain the names of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and staff disciplined following the release of a report on academic fraud at the school. SMVT represents the media coalition. “The failure to provide updated accurate information is a violation of the public records law and, in particular, the State Personnel Act,”…
Read MoreMike Tadych quoted on UNC Wainstein Records
WRAL reports that UNC-Chapel hill’s top attorney is leaving the job in the wake of an investigation into academic fraud at the university. UNC has refused to disclosed the names of faculty and staff who were disciplined following the release of the academic fraud report. WRAL interviewed SMVT attorney Mike Tadych: Raleigh attorney Mike Tadych,…
Read MoreSMVT attorneys quoted on HIPAA and social media
In Rockingham, a volunteer emergency responder claimed to have been suspended for sharing a story on his Facebook page. The story was related to a shooting in which the volunteer had been one of the first responders. An article in the Daily Journal quotes SMVT attorneys Amanda Martin and Brandon J. Huffman: Amanda Martin, general counsel…
Read MoreHugh Stevens participates in Pope Center First Amendment Day Panel
SMVT partner Hugh Stevens participated in a First Amendment Day celebration at UNC-Chapel Hill. The purpose of the panel was to discuss recent campus events or significant cultural moments with free speech implications. Stevens … did offer a remedy—more exercise of the First Amendment, not less. He told the students to counter “offensive” or “disagreeable” ideas…
Read MoreAmanda Martin quoted on school board meeting in private home
The Silva Herald has reported on a school board’s decision to hold their meeting in a private residence. The Herald quoted SMVT partner and N.C. Press Association attorney Amanda Martin: N.C. Press Association attorney Amanda Martin told The Herald that the meeting location does meet the letter of the law; however, if she were writing…
Read MoreMike Tadych quoted on military equipment secrecy
SMVT partner Mike Tadych was quoted by WRAL on secrecy surrounding local authorities in North Carolina acquiring military equipment from the federal government. The localities claim the secrecy arises from security concerns. From WRAL: Mike Tadych, a Raleigh attorney who represents media organizations including WRAL News, said he doesn’t see how the security exemption would…
Read MoreMike Tadych quoted on DHS failure to produce records
Recently, WRAL reported on state Department of Health and Human Services officials’ failure to produce emails requested by the news organization. The request was made more than a year ago. The story quotes SMVT partner Mike Tadych on the North Carolina Public Records Law, which says that the public records must be produced as “promptly…
Read MoreBrandon J. Huffman Quoted on Closed Meeting in Carteret County
The Carteret County News-Times has published a story on a meeting between the Carteret County Commissioners and Gov. McCrory. The article quotes SMVT associate Brandon J. Huffman on whether the meeting, which included a quorum of the Commissioners, might have violated North Carolina’s open meetings law. “They can meet so long as they are not conducting,…
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