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Andy Copenhaver to Speak on 15th Anniversary of Food Lion v. ABC/Capital Cities

February 6, 2012

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Womble Carlyle attorney Andy Copenhaver will participate in a panel discussion marking the 15th anniversary of the landmark Food Lion v. ABC/Capital Cities case – a case Copenhaver was directly involved in litigating. The discussion takes place at the American Bar Association’s 17th Forum on Communications Law, to be held Feb. 9-11 in Orlando, Fla.
 
The panel discussion will take a look back at the case and examine how it changed the legal landscape for undercover and “hidden camera” news reporting. Copenhaver will be joined in the panel discussion by ABC’s lead attorney William Jeffress from Baker Botts and former ABC News President David Westin. Gannett’s Barbara Wall will moderate the discussion.
 
In 1992, ABC’s Prime Time Live program aired allegations against Food Lion alleging unsafe meat handling practices. In the course of reporting the story, ABC reporters applied for jobs with the grocery store chain using falsified information. Once employed, the reporters used hidden cameras to film activities in the grocery stores.
 
Food Lion sued ABC, claiming fraud, breach of duty, trespass, and unfair trade practices. A U.S. District Court ruled in Food Lion’s favor. Copenhaver served as Food Lion’s Lead Trial Counsel.