first amendment

Ratings agencies defending against lawsuits claiming that they issued bogus AAA ratings on junk bonds have asserted a First Amendment defense: Their opinions are protected speech. So far, they're not winning the argument.

A New York tax appeals court has decided that, as far as art goes, pole dancing does not qualify and therefore is subject to sales tax. First Amendment lawyers and strip club owners disagree.

Supreme Court Justices challenged arguments from lawyers trying to keep private signatures on a petition to repeal a Washington domestic-partners law. Also in this roundup of legal news: The first genetic discrimination suit and Wal-Mart's settlement of wage charges.

In a reversal of the traditional roles, Allergan Inc. (AGN) is suing the U.S. government, claiming current rules on so-called off-label drug promotion violate its First Amendment right to free speech. It wants to be allowed to "share relevant information with the medical community on the safe use"...

On Wednesday, the White House launched an investigation of a Continental Express flight that stranded passengers on the ground for several hours last week. As the oddly-familiar incident has gained news traction, it has reignited a debate about how airlines should be required to treat...

When a company is in legal trouble and every avenue of defense looks likely to fail, lawyers often turn to the novel and unexpected. Moody's (MCO) and S&P have been up against criticism that they "sold" good ratings to firms covering financial instruments that did not deserve them According to...

Click at your peril. In the past few weeks, more companies have been snooping through the online universe in an effort to bring their workers in line. Virgin Atlantic airline fired 13 employees for what they said on Facebook. The charge: The employees "brought the company into disrepute." The...