Laura’s experience bringing and defending defamation actions goes back to her days representing the news media. Because of this experience, she is highly attuned to both the procedural and legal hurdles involved with defamation actions. Procedural hurdles include the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), otherwise known as the Texas anti-SLAPP statute. Defamation claims on behalf of individuals, and business disparagement claims on behalf of businesses, aren’t easy to win. That’s why you need a lawyer who is knowledgeable and experienced in bringing and defending defamation actions. Laura has a proven track record of success on both sides of the docket, including: Winning the trial court dismissal of a defamation suit against a reporter and the award of attorneys' fees under the TCPA. Subsequent dismissal of the appeal of the order on the basis that the appellate court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Flynn v. Gorman, No. 02-16-00131-CV, 2016 Tex. App. Lexis 10032 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth Sept. 8, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.). Obtaining a six-figure settlement on behalf of an individual and his business who were defamed by a competitor. Securing Rule 13 sanctions, including attorneys’ fees, for the filing of a frivolous defamation claim.

With her extensive experience handling defamation cases, it is no surprise that Laura’s practice has expanded in recent years to include online defamation and social media defamation. Laura has succeeded in obtaining published retractions for her clients and the permanent removal of defamatory content on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Other social media platforms on which reputations can be harmed include Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn. Laura can also help businesses fight factually false reviews on Yelp and Google.

Laura has successfully represented individuals and businesses in unwinding business relationships (business divorces), and in matters involving breach of contract, business torts (fraud and fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with contract, etc.), employee non-compete agreements, and employee embezzlement. Laura has recently obtained favorable settlements on behalf of physician practices victimized by employee embezzlement. In another employee embezzlement matter, she secured insurance coverage for a company whose employee abused a company credit card. Other recent business matters include: On behalf of a small business that sued its building contractor and lending institution, obtained reversal and rendition of a six-figure Rule 13 sanction. Fast Invs., LLC v. Prosper Bank, No. 02-13-00026-CV, 2014 Tex. App. Lexis 2600 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth Mar. 6, 2014, no pet.) (mem.op.). Negotiated favorable resolutions for clients undergoing business divorce. On behalf of a physician whose employee embezzled over $1.3 million, Laura sued and later negotiated a favorable settlement with the bank that opened the employee’s account and the staffing agency that placed the employee to work in the physician's office. Negotiated a favorable settlement of a suit under the Fair Labor Standards Act on behalf of an employer.

Invasion of privacy includes intrusion upon seclusion, as well as the unreasonable public disclosure of embarrassing private facts. Laura recently obtained a six-figure settlement on behalf of a woman whose private information was wrongfully disclosed by her cell phone service provider.

Laura won dismissal of a paternity action brought by an alleged adult child on the basis that the suit was barred by the residual limitations period. The court also awarded over $35,000 in attorneys’ fees. She has also obtained favorable settlements in copyright infringement matters, and, on behalf of former employees, the quick resolution of suits seeking to enforce employee non-compete agreements. Laura also recently obtained a pre-suit settlement on behalf of a client claiming attorney malpractice.

Online Defamation Internet Defamation Social Media Defamation Online Harassment Business Disparagement Libel, Slander & Defamation Injury to Reputation Invasion of Privacy Anti-SLAPP Motions/Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) Breach of Contract Business Disputes Business Torts Business Litigation Business Divorce Employee Embezzlement Tortious Interference Fraud & Fraudulent Inducement Malicious Prosecution Texas Public Information Act Texas Open Meetings Act News Media Representation Prepublication Review Access to Public Records & Meetings Freedom of Information Deceptive Trade Practices Non-Compete Agreement Disputes Copyright Litigation Civil Appeals