January 2016

January 19, 2016 In Blog Civil Rights & Liberties, Food Project, The Environment

First Round Goes to Citizens in Federal Court Fight Against Wyoming Ag Gag Laws

In late December, we won the first round in our federal constitutional challenge to Wyoming laws that make it a crime for citizens to gather data about environmental pollution from public land. U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl denied the State’s motion to dismiss the suit challenging the laws, citing “serious concerns” about the statutes’ constitutionality.

January 13, 2016 In Updates Civil Rights & Liberties, Food Project

Public Justice Representing Plaintiffs in Challenge to North Carolina ‘Anti-Sunshine’ Law

A coalition of animal protection, consumer rights, food safety, and whistleblower protection groups is challenging a North Carolina law designed to deter whistleblowers and undercover investigators from publicizing information about corporate misconduct. Public Justice is representing all of the groups in the coalition.

Under the law, organizations and journalists who conduct undercover investigations, and individuals who expose improper or criminal conduct by North Carolina employers, are susceptible to suit and substantial damages if they make such evidence available to the public or the press.

January 12, 2016 In Blog Court Secrecy

Same Story, New Ending: Court Overturns Order Sealing Chrysler Defect Records

photo credit: dharder9475 via photopin cc Jennifer Bennett Budd-Kazan Attorney It’s the same story, over and over again: Corporation conceals deadly defect. Someone dies, and their family sues. Corporation settles quietly. Court records are sealed. Nobody finds out. More people are hurt; more people sue;…