News Article

Tampa radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem has make a living and earned a following by making envelope-pushing comments. But on-air insults directed toward radio rival Todd “MJ Kelli” Schnitt landed Clem in civil court facing defamation charges. A Hillsborough County jury ruled on January 30 that Clem’s comments were protected under the First Amendment.
 

Womble Carlyle Telecommunications attorney John Garziglia examines the case – and what other radio stations can learn from it – in a next-day article for Radio Ink.

“The Bubba/MJ trial is just a variation of the risk that every radio station, and every air personality, incurs every day with most elements of programming. Yes. Surprise! Radio station air personalities can be sued for defamation for what they say,” Garziglia writes.

Click here to read the full article, “Was Tampa Trial Really About 1^st Amendment?” in Radio Ink.

John Garziglia represents radio and television broadcasters, offering personalized assistance in all areas of communications and telecommunications law including transactional and contract negotiations for broadcast station mergers and acquisitions, the securing of financing, governmental auctions of new frequencies, license renewals, new stations applications, facility changes, facility upgrades, licensing, and compliance with FCC rules, regulations and policies.