Yim v. City of Seattle (II)
Seattle wages unconstitutional war on landlords
In a misguided effort to combat racial disparities in housing, the City of Seattle passed the "Fair Chance Housing Ordinance," which forbids housing providers from considering applicants' criminal histories, usually uncovered in a standard background check. PLF represents several small-scale housing providers who are denied their constitutionally g ...
Art and Antique Dealers League of America v. Seggos
Antique dealers fight for right to display what they’re allowed to sell
Represented free of charge by PLF, both dealer organizations appealed the lower court's ruling. In November 2024 the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the trial court's decision, recognizing that New York's restriction on advertising lawful antiques and works of art violates the First Amendment rights of dealers. ...
The Clementine Co. v. Adams
New York City’s unequal COVID restrictions silence theaters
New York City actress and theater manager Catherine Russell began her starring role in Perfect Crime in 1987. Over that time, she missed only four days—to attend family weddings—a record-setting run of more than 12,000 performances that lasted until March 2020 when the pandemic was declared. At that point, Catherine implemented extensive COVID ...
Kissel v. Seagull
Fighting unconstitutional burdens on free speech in fundraising
Adam Kissel looked forward to lending his longtime experience in the liberty movement and higher education to help raise money for the nonprofit Jack Miller Center's civic education program. But he soon discovered several states have overly burdensome registration and reporting requirements for paid solicitors. Connecticut, in particular, required ...
American Society of Journalists and Authors v. Bonta
California’s freelancer law destroys journalists’ freedom, autonomy
In an effort to regulate the employment status of independent contractors, California passed a law forcing companies in the state to reclassify most freelancers as employees. Under AB 5, freelance journalists and photographers must cap their submissions at 35 per year, per publisher. Anything greater, and they become employees, losing their profess ...
Debbie Pulley v. Janice Izlar, President of the Georgia Board of Nursing
Georgia midwife sues to continue speaking truthfully about her profession
Debbie Pulley has been a Certified Professional Midwife in Georgia for 24 years, both working as a midwife and advocating for midwives. The state's rules changed in 2015, allowing only licensed nurses to practice midwifery in Georgia. So Debbie turned her efforts to reforming Georgia's laws and advocating for access to midwifery care. But in 2019, ...
Kotler v. Webb
California’s next frontier as speech police: your license plate
Jon Kotler is a First Amendment professor at the University of Southern California (USC). He is also a huge fan of the London-based Fulham Football Club and a longtime season ticket holder. Wishing to celebrate the team's recent success, Jon applied for a personalized license plate with the letters "COYW," which stands for "Come on You Whites," the ...
Peter Stavrianoudakis, et al., v. United States Department of Fish & Wildlife and California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Falconry regulations run afoul of the Bill of Rights
Peter Stavrianoudakis is a longtime licensed falconer in California who just wants to do what people have been doing for thousands of years—raise and train falcons. But state and federal regulations have become so restrictive, he and fellow falconers around the country are left to choose between their falcons or their constitutional rights. Pacif ...
Wilkins v. United States
Government bait-and-switch tramples on property rights and peace of mind
Wil Wilkins and Jane Stanton live next to Montana's Bitterroot National Forest. A road that crosses both of their properties is the result of a limited-use easement granted to the U.S. Forest Service by the properties' previous owners in 1962. The general public is not supposed to use the road, but in 2006 the Forest Service began advertising the r ...