This schedule is tentative and subject to change, including the dates of exams. We may spend more or less time on a particular topic. I will update this schedule as the semester proceeds. You should do the reading before the class period for which it is assigned.
Cases in bold are to be read by the entire class. The other cases will be assigned for briefing and presentations prior to January 30.
Briefs are due no later than midnight on the night before your
presentation!
| Date | Topic | Assigned Reading from Text | Cases |
| Jan. 21 | Introduction and overview | ||
| Jan. 23 | The American Legal System | Chapter 1, pages 1-14 | Interstate Circuit v. City of Dallas
Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville |
| Jan. 26 | (no class) | ||
| Jan. 28 | (cont.) | Chapter 1, pages 15-31 | New York Times v. Sullivan |
| Jan. 30 | (cont.) | ||
| Feb. 2 | The First Amendment: The Meaning of Freedom | Chapter 2, pages 33-45 | Miami Herald v. Tornillo |
| Feb. 4 | (cont.) | Chapter 2, pages 45-60 | Brandenburg v. Ohio
Davidson v. Time Warner, Inc. & Tupac Shakur Delgado v. American Multi-Cinema, Inc. Byers v. Edmondson Yakubowicz v. Paramount Pictures Corp. Herceg v. Hustler |
| Feb. 6 | (cont.) | Chapter 2, pages 60-71 | |
| Feb. 9 | The First Amendment: Contemporary Problems | Chapter 3, pages 73-98 | Tinker v. Des Moines Indep. Comm'ty School District
Trachtman v. Anker Frasca v. Andrews Bethel School District v. Fraser Boroff v. Van West City Board of Education President's Council Dist. 25 v. Comm'ty School Board |
| Feb. 11 | "Reporting America At War" (video) | ||
| Feb. 13 | Contemporary Problems (cont.) | Chapter 3, pages 98-112 | Ward v. Rock Against Racism
Donnelly v. Campbell |
| Feb. 16 | President's Day Holiday | ||
| Feb. 18 | (cont.) | Chapter 3, pages 113-121 | Virginia v. Black
Skokie v. National Socialist Party Gooding v. Wilson Cohen v. California United States v. O'Brien Texas v. Johnson Coggin v. Texas |
| Feb. 20 | Exam #1 | ||
| Feb. 23 | Libel: Establishing a Case | Chapter 4, pages 125-43 | Auvil v. CBS "60 Minutes" (lower court)
Bryson v. News America Publication, Inc. Geisler v. Petrocelli |
| Feb. 25 | (cont.) | Chapter 4, pages 143-54 | Bose v. Consumers Union (Court of Appeals)
Auvil v. CBS "60 Minutes" (Court of Appeals) Texas Beef Group v. Winfrey Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc v. Hepps |
| Feb. 27 | "The McLibel Trial" (video) | ||
| Mar. 1 | Libel: Proof of Fault | Chapter 5, pages 157-72 | Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.
Rosenblatt v. Baer Carson v. Allied News Co. Hutchinson v. Proxmire |
| Mar. 3 | (cont.) | Chapter 5, pages 172-81 | Marcone v. Penthouse International
Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union (lower court) Silvester v. ABC Street v. NBC |
| Mar. 5 | (cont.) | Chapter 5, pages 181-93 | Memphis Pub. Co. v. Nichols
St. Amant v. Thompson Eastwood v. National Enquirer, Inc. Scalamendre v. Kaufman Levan v. Capital Cities/ABC Inc. Church of Scientology v. Behar |
| Mar. 8 | catch-up class | ||
| Mar. 10 | Libel: Defenses and Damages | Chapter 6, Pages 195-207 | Gautsche v. New York
Schiavone Construction v. Time Kennedy v. Zimmerman McCain v. KTVY, Inc. Foster v. Turner Broadcasting |
| Mar. 12 | (cont.) | Chapter 6, pages 207-217 | Edwards v. National Audubon Society
Moreno v. Crookston Times Printing Co. Kirk v. CBS Cochran v. NYP Holdings, Inc. |
| Mar. 15-19 | Spring Break | ||
| Mar. 22 | catch-up class | ||
| Mar. 24 | (cont.) | Chapter 6, pages 217-227 | Howe v. Detroit Free Press
Mathis v. Cannon Burnett v. National Enquirer, Inc. Esposito-Hilder v. SFX Broadcasting (both cases) |
| Mar. 26 | Exam #2 | ||
| Mar. 29 | Invasion of Privacy: Appropriation and
Intrusion |
Chapter 7, pages 229-41 | Eastwood v. National Enquirer
Parks v. LaFace Records Ali v. Playgirl Cohen v. Herbal Concepts White v. Samsung Midler v. Ford Motor Co. Costanza v. Seinfeld Ruffin-Steinbeck v. de Passe |
| Mar. 31 | catch-up class | ||
| Apr. 2 | (cont.) | Chapter 7, pages 242-51 | Grant v. Esquire
Page v. Something Weird Video Stern v. Delphi Internet Services Corp. Montana v. San Jose Mercury News, Inc. Lugosi v. Universal Pictures Reeves v. United Artists |
| Apr. 5 | (cont.) | Chapter 7, pages 251-62 | Nader v. General Motors
Sanders v. ABC |
| Apr. 7 | Invasion of Privacy:
Publication of Private Information and False Light |
Chapter 8, pages 265-83 | Peckham v. Boston Herald
Florida v. Globe Communications Corporation Virgil v. Time, Inc. |
| Apr. 9 | (cont.) | Chapter 8, pages 283-90 | Lake v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Acquino v. Bulletin Co. Peoples Bank & Trust Co. v. Globe International Varnish v. Best Medium Braun v. Flynt Wood v. Hustler |
| Apr. 12 | Regulation of Obscene and Other Erotic Material | Chapter 13, pages 435-46 | Miller v. California
Jenkins v. Georgia Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville (again) |
| Apr. 14 | (cont.) | Chapter 13, pages 446-56 | New York v. Ferber
American Booksellers Association v. Hudnut Interstate Circuit v. Dallas (again) Keego Harbor Company v. Keego Harbor Basiardanes v. City of Galveston |
| Apr. 16 | (cont.) | Chapter 13, pages 456-64 | Luke Records, Inc. v. Navarro |
| Apr. 19 | Copyright | Chapter 14, pages 467-74 | Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders v. Pussycat Cinema |
| Apr. 21 | (cont.) | Chapter 14, pages 474-483 | Time, Inc. v. Bernard Geis Associates
Amsterdam v. Triangle Publications, Inc. Key Publications, Inc. v. Chinatown Today Pub. Miller v. Universal City Studios, Inc. |
| Apr. 23 | (cont.) | Chapter 14, pages 483-95 | Dr. Seuss Enterprisess v. Penguin Books
Campbell aka Luke Skyywalker v. Acuff-Rose Pacific and Southern Co. v. Duncan Elsmere Music, Inc. v. National Broadcasting Co. Castle Rock Entertainment v. Carol Pub.Group Los Angeles News Service v. KCAL-TV Channel 9 |
| Apr. 26 | (cont.) | Chapter 14, pages 495-511 | Alexander v. Haley
Chase-Riboud v. Dreamworks, Inc. |
| Apr. 28 | Regulation of Advertising | Chapter 15, pages 515-22 | Virginia Bd of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer
Council
Central Hudson v. Public Service Commission Bigelow v. Virginia Anheuser-Busch v. Schmoke Coors v. Brady Rubin v. Coors Greater New Orleans Broadcasting v. US |
| Apr. 30 | (cont.) | Chapter 15, pages 522-34 | American Brands v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
PPX Enterprises v. Audiofidelity Enterprises |
| May 3 | (cont.) | Chapter 15, pages 534-48 | Warner-Lambert v. FTC
FTC v. National Commission on Egg Nutrition Braun v. Soldier of Fortune Magazine |
| May 5 |