Admitted to Practice | U.S. Supreme Court, 2005 | | U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2005 | | U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2002 | | U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2000 | | U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1994 | | U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1999 | | U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2001 | | California, 1993 |
| Al Wickers focuses on media and entertainment law, assisting clients in a range of matters, including defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, trademark, theft of ideas and business litigation. He also has extensive expertise in defending news organizations against subpoenas, in gaining access to court proceedings and records, and in California Public Records Act and Brown Act litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Al regularly provides production, pre-publication and pre-broadcast counseling, and helps clients with newsrack regulation and newspaper adjudication.
Al is a member of the firm's executive committee. Selected Experience Gawker Media Ongoing Defending Gawker Media in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by actors Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, based on Gawker.com’s publication of a news item that included a short clip from a videotape showing the couple and another woman naked. In December 2009, the federal district court granted Gawker’s motion to strike plaintiffs’ claims for statutory damages and attorneys’ fees. Gawker plans to move for summary judgment based on fair use. Comedy Central, Showtime Networks, Smithsonian Networks, Versus, truTV and others Ongoing Regularly provide production and pre-broadcast advice for television programs, webcasts and documentary films, including "South Park," "Drawn Together," "Lil Bush," "Reno 911," "Sleeper Cell" and "Californication." Electronic Arts 2009 Defended Electronic Arts against Lanham Act and misappropriation lawsuit filed by former NFL star over Madden NFL video game. A federal court granted Electronic Arts' motion to dismiss on First Amendment grounds. The order can be viewed here. Wenner Media 2009 Successfully represented Wenner Media, publisher of US Weekly, in persuading the California Court of Appeal to overturn a trial court’s order denying the magazine’s special motion to strike a former employee’s $55 million lawsuit for defamation and other torts. Showtime Networks 2009 Defended Showtime Networks against idea-submission lawsuit filed by woman who pitched idea for online reality program. Court sustained Showtime's demurrer to complaint without leave to amend, and entered judgment in favor of Showtime. Freedom Communications / The Orange County Register 2008 Petitioned Court of Appeal for emergency writ to vacate prior restraint against newspaper. Court granted petition and issued published opinion reaffirming strong constitutional presumption against prior restraints. McGraw Hill/BusinessWeek 2008 Defended BusinessWeek reporter who was subpoenaed to testify by Mattel in multibillion-dollar civil lawsuit arising from ownership of "Bratz" dolls. Relying on First Amendment reporter's privilege, we successfully opposed Mattel's motion to quash and motions for reconsideration before the discovery master, and Mattel's motions asking the district court judge to reverse the master's orders. Cable News Network (CNN) 2007 Defended CNN and Larry King against defamation lawsuit filed by actress Lynn Redgrave's ex-husband, based on statements about their divorce proceedings made on Larry King Live. The 9th Circuit affirmed the district court's order dismissing the lawsuit. US Weekly 2007 Defended US Weekly against libel claim by Britney Spears. Court granted magazine's anti-SLAPP motion, dismissed the lawsuit, and awarded the magazine its attorneys' fees. Copley Press 2005 Represented The Copley Press, publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune, in a Public Records Act lawsuit against San Diego State University. The courts ordered the university to release several documents, and awarded the newspaper its attorneys' fees and costs. California Newspaper Publishers Association 2005 Represented the California Newspaper Publishers Association as amicus curiae in an important newspaper adjudication case. The Court of Appeal allowed us to participate in oral argument and issued a published decision adopting CNPA's position. Los Angeles Times 2003 Obtained important published decision from the Court of Appeal, reversing a trial court order denying attorneys' fees to a successful plaintiff in a Brown Act open-meetings case. Video Game Publishers Represented several video game publishers as amici counsel in connection with rehearing petition in 9th circuit in right of publicity case arising from the use of Paris Hilton’s likeness on a parodic greeting card. Court modified original opinion, adopting amici's arguments. Additional Qualifications Professional and Community Activities
- Instructor, "Law of Mass Communications," Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, Fall 2000-present
- Founding Co-Chair, Media Law Resource Center, California Chapter
- Board of Trustees, Hollywood United Methodist Church
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Professional Recognition
- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in Media & Entertainment: Litigation (California) by Chambers USA, 2006-2010
- Named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Media Law by Woodward/White, 2007-present; named in First Amendment Law, 2010-present
- Selected to “Los Angeles Super Lawyers” in First Amendment/Media/Advertising, Entertainment & Sports, Law & Politics, 2004-present
- Named as one of Lawdragon's “500 New Stars, New Worlds,” 2006
- Named as one of California Law Business' "20 Under 40," 2000
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Education J.D., University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1993 A.B., History, Harvard College, 1989, magna cum laude | |