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Jean-Paul (JP) Jassy litigates nationwide with an emphasis on disputes in the First
Amendment, media, internet, copyright and entertainment arenas. He also routinely represents
all types of businesses and individuals in multi-million dollar breach of contract, breach
of fiduciary duty, fraud, trademark and idea submission cases.
JP's clients
include internet giants, television networks, streaming services, online and traditional
news outlets, metropolitan newspapers, motion picture studios, nonprofits dedicated to
free press and free expression, top-flight production companies, and award-winning
reporters. JP also regularly advises production companies, publishers and other content producers in ways to
avoid and mitigate liability.
For well over a decade, JP’s peers have named him annually to The Best
Lawyers in America® in the First Amendment field, and recognized him six times as
"Lawyer of the Year" in Los Angeles in his fields of practice. He is listed in Band 1 (top
band) by Chambers and Partners for Media & Entertainment – First Amendment
Litigation in California, and he is ranked by Chambers nationally in the field of First Amendment Litigation. JP founded two law firms listed as Tier 1 (top tier) by US News &
World Report, both nationally and locally.
JP has successfully litigated cases in the
United States Supreme Court, the Second, Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and the California Supreme Court. He has taught full-length courses on First Amendment and media law at prestigious law schools.
JP is the lead co-author of the Ninth Circuit chapter in Media Libel Law: 50-State Survey,
published annually by LexisNexis and the Media Law Resource Center, and he is a
contributing author to The Right to Know: A Guide to Public Access and Media Law,
published by the California Newspaper Publishers Association and First Amendment
Coalition. He also regularly speaks and writes on First Amendment and media law
issues.
According to Chambers, clients offer the following praise for JP: "My experience working with Jean-Paul is nothing short of outstanding. He is an expert in this field, an excellent writer and works well under pressure"; "He speaks with real credibility, has command of the legal terrain he's in and he does it with real authoritative charm"; and "He is one of the go-to experts in the country. He takes such a personal interest in all of his cases."
NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS
Tory v. Cochran, 544 U.S. 734 (2005). JP was counsel for Ulysses Tory in the US Supreme Court, which struck down an overly broad prior restraint on Tory’s speech about noted attorney Johnnie Cochran.
Boal v. United States (C.D. Cal. 2016). JP was lead counsel for Academy Award®-winner Mark Boal in a lawsuit that succeeded in protecting Boal's confidential sources and unpublished material from interviews with Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl concerning the popular podcast Serial.
Burnett v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 491 F.Supp.2d 962 (C.D. Cal. 2007). Secured secured dismissal of comedienne Carol Burnett’s copyright, trademark and right of publicity claims against Family Guy television program in one of the first cases to apply the fair use doctrine at the motion to dismiss stage.
Lieberman v. KCOP Television, Inc., 110 Cal. App. 4th 156 (2003). Represented television station in the first case to apply California’s anti-SLAPP statute to claims for newsgathering.
Sander v. State Bar of California, 58 Cal. 4th 300 (2013). Successfully argued on behalf of Prof. Richard Sander in California Supreme Court case recognizing a sweeping common law right of access to data maintained by the California State Bar, a judicial branch entity.
Johnson v. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., F.4th 314 (5th Cir. 2021). Landmark Fifth Circuit
decision affirming dismissal of libel complaint against an online media company on personal
jurisdiction grounds.
Elliot v. Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., 639 F.Supp.3d 1012 (C.D. Cal. 2022). Brought successful anti-SLAPP motion against defamation claims concerning a television docuseries entitled Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.
Arpaio v. Robillard, 459 F.Supp.3d 62 (D.D.C. 2020) & Arpaio v. Zucker, 414 F.Supp.3d 84 (D.D.C. 2019). JP was lead counsel for Huffington Post, securing dismissal of defamation, false light and tortious interference claims in two lawsuits brought by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
McDougal v. American Media, Inc. (Los Angeles County Superior Ct. 2018). JP was lead counsel for American Media, bringing an anti-SLAPP motion in response to a lawsuit concerning the editorial decision not to run a story.
Domen v. Vimeo, Inc. (2d Cir. 2021). Successful defense of video-sharing website Vimeo against claims for taking down channel for objectionable content.
Jacoby v. Bd. of Supervisors of Univ. of Louisiana System, 2023 WL 8843087 & 2024 WL 382369 (E.D. Cal. 2023, 2024). Successfully defended USA Today reporter from two subpoenas for his notes and deposition relating to groundbreaking investigative article about sexual assaults at universities in Louisiana.
Couch v. Verizon Communications, Inc., 2021 WL 4476698 (D.D.C. 2021). Successfully defended podcast and noted journalist Michael Isikoff from defamation claim, resulting in dismissal with prejudice at the pleadings stage.
Ross v. Seyfarth Shaw LLP, 96 Cal. App. 5th 722 (2023). Successfully defended law firm at trial and appellate levels, on anti-SLAPP grounds, from defamation and other claims.
Pasadena Police Officers Assn. v. Superior Ct.,, 240 Cal. App. 4th 268 (2015) and Pasadena Police Officers Assn. v. City of Pasadena, 22 Cal. App. 5th 147 (2018). Successfully represented Los Angeles Times in getting access to report of officer-involved shooting and recovery of newpaper's attorney fees in reverse-public records act action.
Young America's Foundation v. Covino, et al. (C.D. Cal. 2016). Successfully defended the First Amendment rights of a diverse group of faculty and staff at Cal State L.A., including BLM Los Angeles co-founder Dr. Melina Abdullah, from claims brought by a conservative group and commentator Ben Shapiro.
Booloon, Inc. v. Google Inc. (California Court of Appeal and Los Angeles Superior Court 2010).
Successfully defended Google from idea submission/trade secret lawsuits.
Thomas v. Los Angeles Times, 189 F.Supp.2d 1005 (C.D. Cal. 2002), aff’d, (9th Cir. Sep. 6, 2002). Successfully defended newspaper from defamation claim in an anti-SLAPP context.
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HONORS
The Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2024
Los Angeles "Lawyer of the Year"
2016, 2019, 2021, 2023
First Amendment Law
2015, 2023
Litigation - First Amendment
Chambers and Partners 2018-2024
Band 1 - Media & Entertainment: First
Amendment Litigation - Cal.
Ranked - First Amendment
Litigation - USA
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyer 2015 - 2024
Rising Star 2005 - 2014
Freedom of Information Award – SPJ/LA
Jack Bates Award - Cal. Press Foundation
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Univ. of Southern California Law School
First Amendment
UC Irvine School of Law
First Amendment and Media Law
Southwestern Univ. School of Law
Defamation, Privacy and Publicity
ASSOCIATIONS
ABA Forum on Communications Law
Governing Committee (fmr.)
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Appellate Judicial Eval. Cmte. (fmr.)
First Amendment Coalition
Board of Directors
Media Law Resource Center
Secretary, Defense Counsel Section
Past Co-Chair, California Chapter
Los Angeles Copyright Society
Law 360
Media & Entertainment
Editorial Advisory Board
EDUCATION
Univ. of Southern California (JD, 1999)
UC Berkeley (BA, highest honors, 1996)
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