Posts Tagged ‘Hugh Stevens’
Charlotte lawsuit pits reality TV feud against freedom of speech
The Charlotte Observer has reported on a lawsuit between a reality TV show personality and his critics (some of whom are also on television). The article explains that the judge is expected to “ban future Facebook postings attacking” the plaintiff’s military record until the trial has concluded. The usual avenue for redress in a libel case…
Read MorePolice turn over video from officer shooting dog
Gaston Gazette has reported that one North Carolina police department decided to release police body camera video in the wake of the non-fatal shooting of a dog. The department cleared the officer involved of any wrongdoing and released the video to combat rumors that the dog was shot for no reason. The article quotes SMVT attorney…
Read MoreHugh Stevens to speak on panel at Open Government Coalition Sunshine Day
SMVT partner Hugh Stevens will speak at The North Carolina Open Government Coalition’s annual Sunshine Day event on March 16 in Durham. The event will be held at the Durham Convention Center. Anyone can register to attend for $30 per person or $45 for registration and a one-year Open Government Coalition membership. From 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., ACLU…
Read MoreUNC’s expensive outside counsel criticized
The Daily Tar Heel has published an article on criticism of UNC-Chapel Hill’s decision to hire an expensive, New York City-based law firm. The firm was hired to assist with representation in a public records lawsuit filed by SMVT on behalf of a coalition of media organizations to uncover records related to the Wainstein report.…
Read MoreHugh Stevens receives NC Bar Association McNeil Smith Award
SMVT’s Hugh Stevens received the John McNeil Smith Jr. Award from the North Carolina Bar Association’s Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities Section. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to the ideals embodied in the Constitutions of the United States and North Carolina. Hugh’s acceptance remarks can be found on his blog, About the First Amendment. You can…
Read MoreJudge 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 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 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 MoreHugh Stevens Reflects on Boyce v. Cooper Settlement
Recently, SMVT partner Hugh Stevens offered his insights into the Boyce v. Cooper litigation. The lawsuit, in which Dan Boyce sued Roy Cooper for libel, unexpectedly settled last week. Hugh has written some reflections on the settlement. The surprise settlement of the 14-year-old libel suit that Dan Boyce and his family filed against Attorney General Roy…
Read More