EFF "Legal Cases - Ram Avrahami v. US News & World Report" Archive

Files in this Archive

960703_avrahami.appeal

Avrahami's notice of appeal. Appellant intends to appeal Circuit court ruling against his complaint that US News and World Report illegally abused his privacy rights when it sold his name to another magazine via a mailing list exchange. (Circuit Judge Willam Newman curiously ruled that the use of one's name in a mailing list is not actionable. The judge also ruled that changing the spelling of the name renders it unprotected, despite clear statutory language that specifies that a name or likeness only has to "clearly identify" a person. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318), and from Avrahami v. USNWR, in the Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (In Chancery 96-203), these cases now merged.

960614_avrahami_ruling.announce

Avrahami's press release on the Circuit Court ruling against his complaint that US News and World Report illegally abused his privacy rights when it sold his name to another magazine via a mailing list exchange. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318), and from Avrahami v. USNWR, in the Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (In Chancery 96-203), these cases now merged.

960604_avrahami_trial.brief

Ram Avrahami's trial brief, laying out why US News & World Report broke the law & violated his privacy when it sold his name on a mailing list without his permission. Argues very convincingly against USNWR's defenses. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

960604_avrahani_trial.announce

Ram Avrahami press release regarding the progress of his case against US News for privacy violation in the form of selling his name on a mailing list, without his permission. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318), and from Avrahami v. USNWR, in the Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (In Chancery 96-203)

960426_usnwr_complaint.answer

US News' answer to bill of complaint, and filing of 5 grounds for defense. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (In Chancery 96-203)

960417_avrahami_defense.answer

Ram Avrahami's grounds for defense to USNWR's amended motion for declaratory relief. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

960401_usnwr_memo_and_amended.motion

USNWR's motion for leave to file amended motion for judgement for declaratory relief (upon learning that Avrahami intentionally misspelled his name "Avrahani" when subscribing to USNWR so that he would know if junkmailers got his name from USNWR), and the amended motion for judgement for declaratory relief itself, plus USNWR memorandum in support of the motion to introduce the amended motion (follow that?) From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

960328_avrahami_defense.answer

Avrahami's grounds for defense reply to USNWR's original motion for declaratory relief. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

960328_avrahami_new.complaint

Avrahami's new bill of complaint against USNWR, seeking to enjoin USNWR from using Avrahami's name, and seeking award of damages. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (In Chancery 96-203)

960206_avrahami_delay.announce

Ram Avrahami press release regarding delays in his case against US News for privacy violation in the form of selling his name on a mailing list, without his permission. The district judge ruled that his court does not have jurisdiction. Avrami appealed to the Circuit Court. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479) and from USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

960205_avrahami.article

Ram Avrahami's _Los_Angeles_Times_ article, "My Life Is Not for Sale", detailing his privacy violation lawsuit against USNWR.

960202_usnwr_judgment_motion.response

US News' response to motion for summary judgment. US News asserts that Avrahami's motion is "procedurally groundless and wholly devoid of factual support". As with the protective order motion, it becomes clear that both sides are being tricky - Avrahami is filings for relief that is not available in the court in question (simply to get press coverage, according to USNWR), and USNWR's case is actually fairly weak, and they are relying on procedural nitpicks at this point. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

960202_usnwr_protective_order.motion

US News' motion for protective order concerning request for admission (on the grounds that the rules that allow admission of written discovery to be ordered do not apply to the court in question.) From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

960202_usnwr_quash_subpoena.motion

US News & World Report's motion to quash subpoena duces tecum, on grounds that the subpoena was served outside the jurisdiction of the court. Avrahami had sought a copy of the mailing list bearing his name that US News sold to Smithsonian, and of other relevant documents that USNWR claims are proprietary and/or irrelevant. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

960116_avrahami_summary_judgment.motion

Avrahami's motion for summary judgment against US News & World Report, seeking actual & punitive damages and an injunction, for USNWR's selling of Avrahami's name on a mailing list in alleged contravention of Virginia's Privacy Act. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

960116_avrahami_admission.request

Avrahami's request for admission - Avrahami attepts to elicit from UNSWR that the magazine sold to Smithsonia a mailing list bearing his name. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

960116_avrahami_motion.announce

Avrahami's press release about his motion for summary judgment. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

951127_avrahami_stay_denial.announce

Avrahami's press release about a delay in the proceedings, and the denial of USNWR's motion for stay. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479) and from USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

951121_usnwr_continuance.motion

US News' motion for continuance (delay). USNWR's attorneys had a scheduling conflict with another case. This motion was granted. USNWR also moved to have the trial stayed entirely until their side case, seeking a declaration from the court that trading names via mailing lists without named parties' consent is legal. The court denied that motion. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

951113_avrahami_stay_motion.opposition

Avrahami's opposition to USNWR's motion to stay his case, and proceed with their own. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

951113_avrahami_motion.demurrer

Avrahami's demurrer to USNWR's motion for declaratory judgement, arguing that UNSWR's motion is contrary to state law. From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

951113_avrahami_demurrer.announce

Avrahami's press release about the demurrer and motion he filed earlier in the day. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479) and from USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

951024_usnwr_stay.motion

US News & World Report's motion for stay, in the General District Court of Arlington County, seeking to prevent the lower court from ruling on Mr. Avrahami's claim until the Circuit Court has considered the USN&WR motion for declaratory judgement. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

951024_usnwr_declaratory_judgement.motion

in the Circuit Court of Arlington County, seeking a ruling from the court that Mr. Avrahami may not proceed with his case in the District Court From USNWR v. Avrahami, Circuit Court of Arlington Co., VA (At Law 95-1318)

950821_avrahami_trial.announce

Avrahami's press release about the filing of his case, and the setting of a trial date. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

950721_avrahami.complaint

Complaint (lawsuit, in this case in the form of a motion for judgement) filed by Ram Avrahami against US News & World Report, for violating the Virginia Privacy Act, by selling his name without his permission, on a mailing list sold to Smithsonian magazine. From Avrahami v. USNWR, in the General District Court of Arlington Co., VA. (Civil Action 95-7479)

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