The First Amendment Project is seeking 1L or 2L students to assist with its litigation and education efforts. FAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the fundamental civil liberties of freedom of speech, of the press and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. FAP provides legal and educational resources in these areas to its core constituency of activists, journalists and artists.
* FAP represented the sponsor of a traffic safety initiative
who was sued by his local government as he tried to gather enough signatures to
have the initiative placed on the ballot
* FAP represented a local environmental activist who was
sued for slander by a commercial landlord for a quote in a newspaper article
about a controversy over the eviction of an environmental justice nonprofit
* FAP represented a campaign pamphleteer and helped him
defeat a lawsuit that tried to prevent him from handing out flyers about a
candidate in the days leading up to the election
* FAP advised the producers of the documentary "Citizen
McCaw" and helped them respond to threats of litigation from the subjects
of the film
* FAP represented a woman who was sued by her former surgeon
after she reported his misconduct to the state medical board
* FAP defended a lawsuit against a woman by her
condominium’s management company after she created a website and shared
information about the mismanagement of the building
FAP represented Katherine Lopez, an elected member of Barrio Logan Community Planning Group, an organization created by the City of San Diego to offer community input in all decisions of the San Diego Planning Department. Ms. Lopez was sued for defamation after sending an email urging members of her community to testify before the community planning group if they had any concerns about the way the developer of a proposed residential complex treated his existing tenants. In her email she related some of the concerns that had already been reported to her, including alleged threats to undocumented tenants. Ms. Lopez's conduct in encouraging others to participate in the community planning group process was classic petitioning conduct protected by both the First Amendment and California Civil Code 47. FAP obtained a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit after informing plaintiff's counsel that an anti-SLAPP motion would be immediately forthcoming.
Upholding the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances, a federal district judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed against a Big Bear Lake environmental activist by a San Diego-based developer. Sandy Steers, a resident of the community of Fawnskin, had been sued by Marina Point Development Associates under the federal Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a law designed to root out mob activities. Marina Point claimed that Ms. Steers conspired with officials of the U.S. Forest Service to "derail" the project by urging various governmental agencies to enforce laws to protect bald eagles in the area.
Does the First Amendment go too far? Disturbing Results from Survey of Students and Educators FAP Launches Redesigned Website Case Profile: Activist Sued as Racketeer
First Amendment Project is a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and promoting freedom of information, expression, and petition.
FAP provides advice, educational materials, and legal representation to its core constituency of activists, journalists, and artists in service of these fundamental liberties.
? Copyright 2005. First Amendment Project. All rights reserved. Imagery ? Copyright 2005 Clinton Fein. All rights reserved. Produced & Designed by Innoventions, Inc
