Juice maker POM Wonderful, which successfully sought a restraining order against The National Law JournaL to block the public of certain information in a suit involving the company, this afternoon will ask a judge to rescind the order.
The National Law Journal was challenging the restraining order on appeal. POM’s request comes hours after a group of media companies filed an amicus brief in support of the NLJ.
The restraining order prohibited the NLJ from identifying the federal regulatory agency that is investigating POM.
Judge Judith Bartnoff of D.C. Superior Court is scheduled to hold a status hearing in her chambers starting at 4 p.m. today.
POM’s lawyer, Barry Coburn of Washington Coburn & Coffman, issued the following statement to the NLJ:
“As of this afternoon, POM Wonderful has asked the DC Superior Court to rescind the temporary restraining order (TRO) filed July 23 against the National Law Journal. Although we believe very strongly in our right to keep confidential documents shielded by attorney-client privilege, we never intended our protected communications with a governmental regulatory agency and a private law firm to become a First Amendment issue. POM is, and always has been, fervent supporters of and believers in the freedom of the press, and takes very seriously its commitment to transparency in all aspects of our business.”
Stayed tuned to the BLT and NLJ.com for more developments.
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