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ASJA Litigation Update

In December 2019, The American Society of Journalists and Authors, Inc., and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) as co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in California federal court arguing that the portions of AB5 directed at freelance journalists and freelance photographers violate guarantees found in the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. We’re represented on a pro bono basis by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm with a history of success in litigating cases involving individual rights. This is a link to the PLF website: https://pacificlegal.org/

Selected pleadings can be read here: 

Litigation Timeline

(Bold type indicates court filings by ASJA and NPPA. Regular type indicates court filings by Defendant. Underlined events are court orders.)

TRIAL COURT

ASJA & NPPA v. Xavier Becerra

US District Court, Central District of California, Western Division-Los Angeles

Case no. 2:19-cv-10645

● 12/17/2019—Complaint filed

● 12/19/2019—Case assigned to Judge Philip S. Gutierrez and Magistrate Judge Karen L. Stevenson

● 12/20/2019—Motion for Preliminary Injunction & Supporting Memorandum of Law filed

● 12/27/2019—Complaint served upon Defendant Xavier Becerra

● 12/31/2019—Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed

● 1/2/2020—Defendant’s Opposition to Application for TRO filed

● 1/3/2020—Reply in Support of Application for TRO filed

● 1/3/2020—Order denying TRO

● 1/7/2020—Stipulation for Extension of Time to File Response to Complaint (extending deadline for Defendant's response to January 24, 2020

● 1/24/2020—Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Complaint filed

● 2/24/2020—Defendant’s Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed

● 2/24/2020—Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed

● 2/24/2020—Response in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss filed

● 3/09/2020—Reply Supporting Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss filed

● 3/20/2020—Order Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction

● 3/20/2020—Order Granting Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Complaint

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

● 4/17/2020—Notice of Appeal filed

● 4/20/2020—Order setting briefing schedule

            Opening Brief due May 15,2020

            Answering Brief due 6/12/2020

            Optional Reply Brief due 21 days from filing of Answering Brief

 

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