Defamation/First Amendment
Cravath assists clients in defamation and first amendment matters. These range from pre-publication and distribution reviews to bringing actions challenging the constitutionality of legislation that adversely impacts our clients’ freedom of speech, such as challenges we have brought against the Cable Acts of 1984 and 1992 and the television station ownership cap. Cravath for decades was Time Inc.’s primary defamation/privacy outside counsel, representing that company in numerous landmark cases in the area, including two successful Supreme Court cases. More recently, we represented NEWSWEEK Magazine and its reporter Michael Isikoff in the litigation brought by Julie Hiatt Steele and in dealing with subpoenas from various prosecutors and the Starr Commission for Isikoff’s testimony.