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Ms. Ritvo has more than twenty-five years of broad experience in complex commercial litigation and also regularly counsels and represents newspapers, television stations, publishers and other media in libel, invasion of privacy, access, First Amendment and copyright matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts. She has also served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for business and construction disputes.
Representative Matters
o Successfully defended newspaper in defamation case in which First Circuit adopted a favorable, in-depth analysis of the Massachusetts privilege for fair reports of governmental activity.
o Successfully sought public filing of discovery and unsealed other pleadings in church sexual abuse cases in Massachusetts state courts (2002 - 2003).
o Successfully represented newspaper in unsealing judicial records in a case in which Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts recognized that public right of access to judicial records in civil cases is substantially the same as the broad right of access to judicial records in criminal cases.
o Successfully defended newspaper in invasion of privacy case in which Massachusetts Appeals Court recognized that the media are privileged against claims for invasion of privacy when a publication falls within a broad category of "matters of public concern."
o Successfully represented newspaper in matter involving access to hospital arraignment in which Supreme Judicial Court recognized that the public right of access to judicial proceedings was the same, whether proceedings were held in traditional courtroom or in non-traditional settings.
o Successfully defended newspaper in defamation case in which Supreme Judicial Court affirmed summary judgment in favor of newspaper where public official plaintiff failed to rebut reporter's affidavit alleging she believed her story to be true and had no reason to doubt her source.
Publications
o Co-Author, Online Forums and Chat Rooms in Defamation Actions, Communications Lawyer (ABA Forum on Communications Law), Summer 2006
o Co-Author, Fair Report Privilege: First Circuit Extends Privilege to Police Chief Interview, Boston Bar Journal, September/October 2003
o Co-Author, "Recognition of Foreign Judgments in the United States," in Media Law Quarterly, Fall 2003
o Co-Author, Survey of First Circuit Privacy and Related Claims Against the Media, Media Law Resource Center 50-state Survey, Media Privacy and Related Law
o Co-Author, "Survey of Massachusetts Employment Privacy," Media Law Resource Center 50-state survey, Employment Privacy and Libel Law
o Co-Author, Massachusetts section published in The Reporters' Committee for Freedom of the Press, "Reporter's Privilege Compendium", Summer, 2002
o Co-Author, Massachusetts Chapter, International Execution Against Judgment Debtors (Oceana Publications)
o Author of various articles concerning current media law matters
Representative Speaking Engagements
Ms. Ritvo regularly speaks on media law and First Amendment matters.
o Faculty, Media Advocacy Workshop, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law (February 2007)
o Facilitator, Newsgathering: Access, Subpoenas and Related Matters, Media Law Resource Center, Media Law Conference (September 2004)
o Speaker, New England Press Association Annual Conference: HIPAA (2004); Is Your Newsroom Secure? (2003); Libel and Invasion of Privacy (2002); Internet Law and the Media (2001); Covering the Courts (2000); Invasion of Privacy (1996); Legal Issues in Advertising (1992)
o Speaker, "Pro Se: Managing Cases with Self-Represented Parties", American Arbitration Association Neutrals Training Conference (January 2003, August 2003)
o Panelist, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Privacy Security and Liability on the Internet (1996)
Professional and Community Involvement
o Co-chair, Women in Communications Law, American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law (2004 - 2006)
o Co-chair, New Developments Committee, Media Law Resource Center (2005 - present), member (2002 - 2004)
o Member, Model Shield Law Committee, Media Law Resource Center (2006 - Present)
o Member, Boston Bar Association Task Force on Confidential Settlement Agreements (2002 - 2004)
o Member, Boston Bar Foundation Grants Committee (1999 - present)
o Trustee, Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation (2002 - present)
o Gala Committee, The Second Step, transitional residential program for battered women with children (2004, 2005)
o Trustee (1994 - 1998) and President (1998 - 1999), Women's Bar Foundation of Massachusetts
Bar Admissions & Memberships
o Admitted, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Bars
o Inactive Member, Virginia Bar
o Admitted, United States District Court for District of Massachusetts; United States District Court for District of Columbia; United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; United States District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; United States Supreme Court. |
