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)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Sloan, Sam (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
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
1

1:16-cv-00052

Complaint 1:16-cv-52-

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 9, 2016

Complaint
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 of Investigation or Suit/Demand 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 June 13, 2025, 4:07 a.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

RECAP
8

JUDGMENT is hereby entered in accordance with 5 Report and Recommendation, 7 Order on Report and Recommendation. Signed by Daniel J. Lynch, Clerk of Court. (Case Closed) (js) (Entered: 05/31/2016)

May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016

RECAP
9

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 8 Judgment, 7 Order on Report and Recommendation by Sam Sloan. Filing fee $ 505, receipt number 14649013724. File-stamped copy to be sent to parties/USCA by Clerks Office. NOTICE TO COUNSEL: Counsel should register for a First Circuit CM/ECF Appellate Filer Account at http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/cmecf/. Counsel and pro se parties should also review the First Circuit requirements for electronic filing by visiting the CM/ECF Information section at http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cmecf(js) (Entered: 06/30/2016)

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

RECAP
10

Appeal Cover Sheet as to 9 Notice of Appeal filed by Sam Sloan. (js) (Entered: 06/30/2016)

June 30, 2016

June 30, 2016

PACER
11

Clerk's Certificate transmitting Record on Appeal to US Court of Appeals, documents numbered 7-10, re 9 Notice of Appeal. A copy of the Notice of Appeal mailed to all parties this date.(js) (Entered: 06/30/2016)

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

RECAP
13

Mandate

Nov. 22, 2016

Nov. 22, 2016

RECAP

Case Details