Saliterman & Siefferman, P.C., to DefendClient's Use of Web site in First Amendment"...

Business Editors/Legal Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Patrick Blaylock is being sued by his former insurance company for registering the domain name: www.northlandinsurance.com. Blaylock's attorney appeared in federal court on Friday, September 1, 2000, to prevent

In what might be the first case of its kind before a federal court in Minnesota, Blaylock is defending his use of the web sites: www.northlandinsurance.com and www.sailinglegacy.com to publish information critical of the insurance company. According to Blaylock, a retired construction project manager, he set up the sites because, "I just want to let everyone know how unfairly I was treated."

"The pending decision in this case could be one of the most important First Amendment or freedom of expression decisions to effect the United States in at least a decade," said Blaylock's attorney, Paul Ledford, an associate attorney with Minneapolis based law firm, Saliterman & Siefferman, P.C.

Ledford, recently named one of Minnesota's "Rising Stars" by Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine, said, "We are not talking about publishing sex on the internet. This case is all about the very principles this great country was founded on: free speech and the right to criticize government or big business."

According to Blaylock's attorney, this case raises very "interesting" questions under the new Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, as well as under traditional trademark law. "It is clear from the legislative history of the (Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection) Act that the freedom of the press, including "Cybergriping," remains protected and unaffected by the Act," Ledford said.

Blaylock submitted a claim for damage to his sailboat suffered during a race. A California Small Claims Court found that Northland Insurance Company unfairly denied his claim.