Sedgwick Partner Laura Lee Prather Obtains Dismissal for Clients Granite Publications and Community Publishers

Dismissed within 90 Days -Victory Adds to Prather's "Swift Justice" Track Record. End Quote

San Francisco, CA (1888PressRelease) January 22, 2011 - Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP (www.sdma.com) Partner Laura Lee Prather successfully obtained a quick dismissal for her clients, Granite Publications and Community Publishers, in the case, Frederick Ray Akins v. Liberty County, Texas, et al. (Case # 1:10-CV-00328). This latest victory highlights an impressive track record and underscores Prather's commitment to "swift justice."

Prather defended her clients against allegations arising out of their newsgathering and publication of information concerning the defendant's arrest. Akins claimed that the news information published by the defendants resulted in him receiving an "unusually high bond of $100,000 for such a minor felony when the plaintiff's co-defendant's bond was only $6,000." With Prather at the helm and Catherine Robb serving as of counsel, the case was dismissed for both clients in less than six months after being served with citations and prior to any discovery or significant pleadings being filed.

"This case is just the latest in a string of victories. In the last four years, Laura has brought more than 50 cases to resolution through dismissal or summary judgment, allowing our clients to focus on their business and avoid being immersed in long, drawn out courtroom battles," said Sedgwick Chair Michael Tanenbaum. "She is fiercely dedicated to protecting the interests of her clients and takes client service to another level."

Prather was recently named by American Lawyer magazine as one of the top "45 Under 45," a listing of the best young women lawyers in the nation. Since joining Sedgwick in 2006, where she was instrumental in the opening of the Austin office, she has successfully defended Sedgwick clients in a way that has not only lead to desired results but has saved clients legal fees and avoided lengthy trials. In that time, Prather's successes include:

• More than a dozen cases dismissed or summary judgment granted within 90 days of filing,
• Approximately two dozen cases dismissed or summary judgment granted within one year, and
• 19 cases handled without discovery.

With a practice concentrated at the trial and appellate level in commercial and business litigation, First Amendment litigation and open government issues, Prather has been at the forefront of a number of high-profile, media-related trials. She has built a substantial practice defending media entities and represents such marquee companies as Gannett Co., Fox Broadcasting Company, Viacom, Inc., and Clear Channel Communications. She also is one of the leading authorities on the Texas Free Flow of Information Act-championing the cause for three legislative sessions resulting in its ultimate passage into law on May 13, 2009.

For more detailed information on Prather and her cases, visit her web bio at http://www.sdma.com/laura-lee-prather/#more.

The international trial firm of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP provides trial, appellate, litigation management, counseling, risk management and transactional legal services to the world's leading companies. With more than 350 attorneys in offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orange County (California), Paris, San Francisco, and an affiliated office in Bermuda, Sedgwick's collective experience spans the globe and virtually every industry. For more information about Sedgwick, its attorneys and its services, visit www.sdma.com.

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