Case: Sloan v. Hearst Media Company

1:16-cv-00052 | U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire

Filed Date: Feb. 9, 2016

Closed Date: Oct. 28, 2016

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Case Summary

This case is about a Democratic Presidential candidate who alleged that various television stations refused to run paid advertisements endorsing his candidacy for President or allow him to participate in the Presidential debates. On February 9, 2016, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire against a well-known media company, a specific television station, and the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The plaintiff claimed that…

This case is about a Democratic Presidential candidate who alleged that various television stations refused to run paid advertisements endorsing his candidacy for President or allow him to participate in the Presidential debates.

On February 9, 2016, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire against a well-known media company, a specific television station, and the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The plaintiff claimed that even though he submitted requests and offered to pay to have his sixteen presidential candidacy advertisements aired, the defendants would not run his advertisements on the air for people to see. Additionally, the plaintiff claimed that he was not allowed to participate in Democratic televised debates. The plaintiff alleged that this caused injury to his presidential campaign. The plaintiff failed to identify any statutory or constitutional grounds on which he brought his claims. Representing himself pro se, the plaintiff sought a temporary restraining order so that his paid advertisements could be aired and to include him in televised debates. The case was assigned to Judge Paul J. Barbadoro.

On the same day, the court issued an order that stated that the plaintiff failed to identify statutes or constitutional provisions on which his claims were based and the court denied the plaintiff’s request for a temporary restraining order.

On May 31, 2016, the court dismissed the plaintiff’s action in its entirety.

On June 30, 2016, the plaintiff appealed the motion to dismiss to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. On October 28, 2016, the circuit court issued a judgment affirming the dismissal of the complaint by the district court. 

This case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Leilani Argersinger (4/23/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5641804/parties/sloan-v-hearst-media-company/


Judge(s)

Barbadoro, Paul J. (New Hampshire)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
4

1:16-cv-00052

Order

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Order/Opinion
1

1:16-cv-00052

Complaint 1:16-cv-52-

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Complaint
2

1:16-cv-00052

Motion for Temporary Order Requiring WMUR TV Station to Carry Media Advertisements Advocating Sam Sloan for President of the United States

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
5

1:16-cv-00052

Report and Recommendation

April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016

Magistrate Report/Recommendation
7

1:16-cv-00052

Order

May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

Order/Opinion
8

1:16-cv-00052

Judgment

May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

Order/Opinion
9

1:16-cv-00052

Notice of Appeal

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

Notice Letter
12

1:16-cv-00052

Judgment

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Oct. 28, 2016

Oct. 28, 2016

Order/Opinion
13

1:16-cv-00052

Mandate

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Nov. 21, 2016

Nov. 21, 2016

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5641804/sloan-v-hearst-media-company/

Last updated Nov. 5, 2024, 2:13 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

Complaint

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

2 Summons - Waiver

View on RECAP

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Clearinghouse
2

Miscellaneous Relief

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Clearinghouse
3

Summons - Waiver Issued

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

PACER
4

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Clearinghouse

Notice - ECF

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

PACER

Case Assigned

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

PACER
5

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re 1 Complaint, recommending the district judge dismiss this action in its entirety. Follow up on Objections to R&R on 5/16/2016. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone.(vln)

April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016

Clearinghouse
6

Objection to Report and Recommendation

May 27, 2016

May 27, 2016

PACER
7

///ORDER approving 5 Report and Recommendation. So Ordered by Judge Paul J. Barbadoro.(js)

May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

Clearinghouse
8

Judgment

May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

Clearinghouse
9

Notice of Appeal

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

Clearinghouse
10

Appeal Cover Sheet

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

PACER
11

Clerks Certificate

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

PACER

Appellate Case Number

July 1, 2016

July 1, 2016

PACER
12

Judgment

Oct. 31, 2016

Oct. 31, 2016

Clearinghouse
13

Mandate

Nov. 22, 2016

Nov. 22, 2016

Clearinghouse

Case Details

State / Territory: New Hampshire

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 9, 2016

Closing Date: Oct. 28, 2016

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff is a candidate running for U.S. President as a Democrat and is registered with the Federal Election Commission.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Hearst Media Company (New York, New York), Private Entity/Person

WMUR TV Station (Manchester), Private Entity/Person

Deborah Wasserman Schultz (Washington, District of Columbia), Private Entity/Person

Stephen Hartzell (Greensboro, North Carolina), Private Entity/Person

Brooks Pierce (Greensboro, North Carolina), Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief denied

Issues

Voting:

Voting: General & Misc.