First Amendment Libel Case Results in Favorable Jury Verdict for Defendants
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 13, 2006) — Today, a Fayette County, West Virginia jury decided in favor of the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, represented by McDermott Will & Emery, in a case of great importance for the First Amendment rights of political speakers. The defamation lawsuit was filed by former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlotte Pritt in October 1997. After a six-day trial and only five hours of deliberation, the jury rendered its verdict in favor of the defendants.
Pritt had alleged that the committees defamed her through a series of radio and television advertisements during the 1996 gubernatorial campaign that criticized her voting record as a state legislator. Pritt lost the election and was seeking $12 million in damages. In 2000, a former Fayette County circuit judge dismissed the case and Pritt appealed. The state Supreme Court sent the case back to Fayette County in 2001.
The McDermott team representing the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee was led by partners Bobby Burchfield and Jason Levine, who have handled the matter since its inception, with assistance from associate Meredith Caskey.
McDermott Will & Emery is an international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers practicing in 14 offices worldwide. The Firm has represented national and state political parties, presidential and congressional candidates, corporations and political committees in landmark litigation and regulatory enforcement actions.
