Media Litigation
Jackson Walker’s Media group is one of the most prominent in the country, providing a full range of services to its clients, including comprehensive litigation services. The Firm’s Media practice has more than 114 years of uninterrupted service to our media clients. It began in 1905 with the representation of the old Dallas Times Herald and has grown into a practice that is now national in scope.
The practice of the Media group involves providing counsel regarding:
- Pre-publication review of news articles, broadcasts and advertisements
- Response(s) to subpoenas, including protection of confidential sources, notes and outtakes
- Defense of libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress cases
The Firm regularly handles matters from the inception of an idea for a publication through discovery, trial, and any appeals.
Jackson Walker’s media clients include local and regional broadcasters and news organizations, as well as national television networks, news organizations, publishers, production companies, syndicators, and media conglomerates.
- Villarreal v. Alaniz et al., Cause No. 20-40359, U.S. Supreme Court (2024). Represented a coalition of 21 media organizations as amici curiae in support of a citizen journalist’s petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court after her arrest for reporting on the death of a Border Patrol employee based on a law intended to punish bid-rigging. The Supreme Court granted the petition, vacated the Fifth Circuit’s judgment, and remanded the case for further consideration in light of Gonzalez v. Trevino, 602 U. S. ___ (2024) (per curiam).
- Riccio v. Phillip McGraw, et al., Cause No. BC400362, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (2009). Anti-SLAPP special motion to strike granted in favor of McGraw in defamation suit arising out of Dr. Phil Show television program.
- Knight v. Chicago Tribune Co. et al., 895 N.E.2d 1007, Ill. App. Ct. (2008). Affirming jury verdict in favor of newspaper on suit for libel arising out of investigative report into role of prosecutorial misconduct in Illinois death sentences.
- Darlene Tracy v. Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Harpo Productions, Inc. and ABC Television, 2008 WL 2357943, 1st Cir. (slip op.) Affirming Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) dismissal of copyright infringement, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets claims relating to Oprah’s “Big Give” program.
- Waddell v. FOX Entertainment Group, et al., Civil Action No. 3:06-cv-2387-M, N.D.Tex (2008). Summary judgment granted in favor of FOX News against chiropractor subject of investigative report into misuse of government loan program designed to benefit businesses affected by 9/11 attacks.
- Stephens v. Dolcefino, Cause No. 1999-43183, 215th District Court of Harris County, Texas (2007). Jury verdict for television station on claims under Texas wiretap statute and for alleged invasion of privacy stemming from investigation into city official’s work habits.
- Nationwide Bi-Weekly Admin., Inc. v. Belo Corp., 512 F.3d 137, 5th Cir. (2007). Affirming, in case of first impression, dismissal of libel action against newspaper on basis that single publication rule applied to article published on newspaper’s website and statute of limitations was not tolled under theory of continuous publication.
- Abdel-Hafiz v. ABC, Inc., et al., 240 S.W.3d 492, Tex. App.-Fort Worth (2007, pet. denied). Affirming summary judgment entered in favor of ABC News, Brian Ross, and Charles Gibson against defamation suit brought by FBI agent who allegedly refused to secretly record Muslim terrorism suspect during pre-9/11 investigation.
- FOX Entertainment Group, Inc., et al. v. Abdel-Hafiz, 240 S.W.3d 524, Tex. App.-Fort Worth (2007, pet. denied). Reversing trial court and rendering summary judgment for FOX News and Bill O’Reilly against defamation suit brought by FBI agent who allegedly refused to secretly record Muslim terrorism suspect during pre-9/11 investigation.
Jackson Walker Secures Dismissal of Claims Against Jed Wallace in ‘It Ends With Us’ Defamation Suit
Jackson Walker obtained a dismissal of all claims asserted in New York federal court against Jed Wallace, a Texas-based social media strategist and principal of Street Relations, Inc. On November 5, 2025, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Mr. Wallace’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The court held that the claims—rooted in allegations of reputational harm tied to publicity surrounding the film It Ends With Us—fall within New York’s defamation exception to the state’s long-arm statute and therefore could not proceed in New York.
Client Results • November 6, 2025
Jackson Walker Represents Feldman & Feldman in Defeating Defamation Suit
Jackson Walker successfully represented Houston-based litigation boutique Feldman & Feldman, P.C. in a defamation lawsuit filed by EasyKnock, Inc. The lawsuit, initiated in November 2021, centered around statements published on Feldman & Feldman’s website that warned consumers about EasyKnock’s home sale-leaseback business practices.
Client Results • February 6, 2025
Paul Watler Defends Press Freedom Involving Citizen Journalist in US Supreme Court Case
In a notable development for press freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court on October 15, 2024, vacated the judgment of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the high-profile case of Villarreal v. Alaniz and remanded the case for further consideration.
Paul Watler and Maggie Burreson, along with lawyers from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, served as counsel for the amici curiae, comprising 21 media organizations, in support of petitioner Priscilla Villarreal.
Client Results • October 21, 2024
Jackson Walker Submits Amicus Brief on Behalf of Prominent Authors and Publishers in Book-Banning Case
The Fifth Circuit heard oral argument yesterday in Little v. Llano County, a First Amendment challenge to Llano County’s removal of books from public library shelves. Jackson Walker’s amicus brief was filed on behalf of best-selling authors Stephen King and James Patterson, the Association of American Publishers, The Authors Guild, and publishers Candlewick Press, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks.
Client Results • September 25, 2024
Jackson Walker Obtains Appellate Victory for Local Radio Station in Defamation Suit
Bob Latham and Michael Murtha successfully defended Chris Samples Broadcasting, operating as KXDJ Radio, against defamation claims related to a series of episodes discussing the death of a teenager from Canadian, Texas.
Client Results • August 15, 2024
Jackson Walker Wins Dismissal of Business Disparagement Lawsuit Against ProPublica and The Texas Tribune
A Jackson Walker team including Marc Fuller, Maggie Burreson, and Josh Romero has won a significant victory for leading nonprofit news organizations ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. On May 22, 2024, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin ordered the dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit alleging business disparagement, tortious interference, and civil conspiracy claims based on an investigative article about local governments’ response to COVID-19 and an entrepreneur’s attempts to market his company’s medical services during the early days of the pandemic.
Client Results • May 24, 2024
Jackson Walker Represents Publishing Companies in Fighting Book Restrictions in Llano County, Texas
Marc Fuller and Maggie Burreson filed an amicus brief challenging Llano County’s decision to remove books on race and LGBTQ topics from public library shelves. The amicus group includes the American Association of Publishers; the five largest book publishing companies in the U.S. – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers; independent book publisher Candlewick Press; and Scholastic, Inc., the largest publisher of children’s books.
Client Results • June 7, 2023
Texas Appeals Court Denies Motion to Seal Evidence, Allowing Media to Retain Access to Exhibits From Trade Secret Dispute
In a longstanding dispute over a fundamental First Amendment right to access public records, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Houston Forward Times have prevailed for a third time. On March 15, 2023, the San Antonio Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s order and rendered judgment denying an amended motion to seal 14 trial exhibits in the case of Title Source, Inc. v. HouseCanary, Inc.
Client Results • March 20, 2023
Texas Federal Court Dismisses Doctor’s $100M Defamation Suit Against CNN, Setting Useful Precedent for Cases That Interject Political Debate Into Courthouses
Bob Latham and Demi Williams represented CNN in a defamation lawsuit brought by Dr. Stella Immanuel, who publicly advocated for the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat COVID-19 during a speech in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the suit, Dr. Immanuel contended that CNN reported she “is unfit to be a medical doctor, that her medical judgments and advice are unsafe and/or unsound, and that she peddles disinformation, including harmful medical treatments, and therefore, endangers patients.” She sought $100 million in damages.
Client Results • October 25, 2022
California Appellate Court Grants Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss Case Brought by Guest on ‘Dr. Phil’
Chip Babcock, Nancy Hamilton, and Joel Glover obtained dismissal of a case brought against Dr. Phil McGraw, Peteski Productions, Inc., and CBS Media Ventures by a former guest of Dr. Phil.
Client Results • August 25, 2022
Emilio Nicolas to Present at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute
Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas will be a featured speaker at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute (ELI), an event co-sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law and the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Speaking Engagements • August 19, 2025
Stacy Allen Presented Distinguished Service Award at Texas Association of Broadcasters’ Annual Gala
The Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) honored Jackson Walker partner Stacy Allen with the Distinguished Service Award during its Annual Awards Gala. This event brought together radio and television professionals from across Texas and the United States to celebrate the outstanding achievements of broadcast leaders and stations.
Attorney News • July 11, 2025
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
Spotlight • June 5, 2025
Emilio Nicolas Discusses Legal Standards for Copyright Infringement in the M. Night Shyamalan Case
In a recent article published by Asia IP, Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas provided an in-depth analysis of the legal standards for copyright infringement, focusing on a high-profile trial involving acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and the Apple TV+ series “Servant”.
Mentions • January 29, 2025
Paris Olympics: Elite Competition, Extraordinary Athletes Turn Cynicism into Celebration | The Texas Lawbook
In this article featured in The Texas Lawbook, Bob Latham reflects on the transformative power of the Olympic Games, having witnessed it firsthand in Paris 2024, his fifth Games. Amid initial skepticism from Parisians and logistical challenges, the city’s unique energy and unity quickly took hold.
Insights • September 27, 2024
Demi Williams Joins NIL Panel Discussion at Dallas Bar Association CLE
On Wednesday, August 28, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams participated in a panel discussion entitled “Navigating NIL: Legal Implications for the Evolution of the Student Athlete,” hosted by the Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association as part of their continuing legal education (CLE) program.
Speaking Engagements • September 17, 2024
