First Amendment & Defamation

Deutsch, Levy & Engel's attorneys have earned national recognition for their skill in representing publishing and media clients in the defense of defamation, invasion of privacy and copyright claims.

We have successfully defended defamation and invasion of privacy actions filed by Frank Sinatra, Judith Exner, Heather Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Cat Stevens, Joan Collins, Tom Selleck and other celebrities. We have also conducted prepublication review for print and television media, advised production staff of nationally syndicated television shows on program subjects and content, and routinely counseled clients regarding newsgathering issues.

Read about our notable cases
In addition to representing the media, we have represented defamation plaintiffs. Our clients have included Johnny Carson and his wife, Joanne, in a case against a tabloid publisher that defined the standard for reckless disregard and malice. John W. Carson v. Allied News Company. We have also represented former Chicago Bear Keith Van Horne in a defamation action against nationally syndicated shock jock Mancow Muller. The action resulted in a 1.6-million-dollar settlement for Van Horne. We also represented Janet Dahl in her well-publicized case against Mancow Muller.

Deutsch, Levy & Engel also litigates commercial speech issues of national importance. We represented STATS, Inc. in NBA v. Motorola, Inc. and STATS, Inc., which determined that sports statistics couldn't be owned once made public; thus preventing the use of state misappropriation laws to evade the limitations of the Copyright Act.

On behalf of the outdoor advertising industry, Deutsch, Levy & Engel successfully challenged a City of Chicago ordinance banning the outdoor advertising of cigarettes and alcohol.

Click here to read about our other First Amendment and defamation cases.