Legal News
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 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 MoreIndy Week covers Desmond v. The News and Observer Publishing Company, et al.
Indy Week has published an article on appellate arguments in Desmond v. The News and Observer Publishing Company, et al., a libel case against the N&O and its parent company. SMVT represents the media defendants in the ongoing case and presents this link to the coverage without further commentary.
Read MoreCourt Unseals Parts of Documents in Investigation of Killing of UNC Student Faith Hedgepeth
Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. partially unsealed search warrants Wednesday related to the 2012 death of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth. The News & Observer reports that the court allowed release of redacted versions of the search warrants, but kept an autopsy report and 911 calls sealed. SMVT partner Hugh Stevens represented the…
Read MoreJudge to Review UNC Enrollment Records
The Chapel Hill News reported recently on the ongoing litigation arising from a records request filed by the News & Observer with UNC-Chapel Hill. The request sought records of fraudulent classes in which student athletes were enrolled. Soon, a judge will review the records to determine if they fall under the North Carolina Public Records…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of LexisNexis in Important Public Records Case
On February 18, 2014 the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that a database of criminal cases maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts is a public record. SMVT supported LexisNexis by filing an amicus brief on behalf of several of the firm’s media clients. To read the court’s opinion, click here.
Read MoreBuncombe County Returns Newsracks To Courthouse Steps
When Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene unilaterally removed newspaper boxes from the courthouse steps, NC Press Association Members Mountain Xpress and Asheville Citizen-Times spoke up. In a letter to Greene, SMVT Partner Amanda Martin protested the removal, citing First Amendment protections, and the boxes were returned. ACT President and Publisher Randy Hammer gave the backstory…
Read MoreJudge Unseals Transcript in Custody Case
In response to a motion filed on behalf of The News & Observer by SMVT partner Amanda Martin, Wake County District Court Judge Lori Christian recently unsealed the audio recording of a July 7, 2010 hearing in a hotly contested custody case. To read Judge Christian’s order recognizing the importance of open courts, click here…
Read MoreSealed Warrants Opened
SMVT partner Amanda Martin represented five media organizations who sought access to more than 40 search warrants that had been sealed in the investigation into the death of Zahra Baker, a disabled 10-year-old girl whose dismembered body was discovered in Caldwell County in December. The warrants revealed important information such as when the young girl…
Read MoreVance County Superior Court: Motion to Quash Subpoena Seeking the Identities of Anonymous Bloggers
NORTH CAROLINA: VANCE COUNTY: THOMAS S. HESTER, JR., Plaintiff, v. JANE OR JOHN DOE a/k1a “BEAUTIFUL DREAMER” AND/OR “CONFUSED,””FATBOY”. et ai., Defendants. IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 10-CVS- 361 ORDER Re: MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENA THIS MATTER came on for hearing before the undersigned Judge of Superior Court on Friday, June…
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