RE:

I, too, know Kay Murray, and I second Gloria's response.

Jessica R. Friedman
Attorney at Law
757 Third Avenue
Suite 1903
New York, New York 10017
Phone: 212-220-0900
Fax: 212-973-9101
jrfriedman[_at_]litproplaw.com

For more information:
www.literarypropertylaw.com

-----Original Message-----
From: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property [mailto:CNI-COPYRIGHT[_at_]cni.org]On Behalf Of Phares, Gloria C. (x2686) Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 4:51 PM To: CNI-COPYRIGHT -- Copyright & Intellectual Property Subject: [CNI-(C)]

In response to Irvin Muchnick <irvmuch[_at_]yahoo.com>

Subject: FREELANCE RIGHTS: Authors Guild Lawyer Exits Via the Revolving Door

<snip>

"I have confirmed that Kay Murray, general counsel of the Authors Guild and
one of the key negotiators and spokespeople for the associational plaintiffs' role in the settlement, has left that job for a position in the New York office of the Tribune Company.

"As in, owner of the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Newsday, eight
other major daily newspapers, and numerous other media properties. Not to mention the Chicago Cubs, who stink again this year.

"What about all the info Guild members have confided in Kay Murray regarding
the settlement? Is she bound by attorney-client privilege?

"First we have a mediator, Kenneth Feinberg, who says the settlement is
hunky-dory and who just happens to be in line for a "mediation success fee." Then we have an associational plaintiff, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, that's on the take from defendant LexisNexis. Now we have the Authors Guild's settlement point person going on the payroll of the enemy camp even before the settlement is finalized."

<snip>

Gloria Phares replies:

I am more than astonished by the tenor of these remarks. But since you've posted your views to the whole list, I'm responding to the whole list. I know nothing about the terms of the settlement and have no opinion about it. But I know Kay Murray professionally and personally. Not only is she a lovely person, but she is honorable and will certainly respect the attorney-client privilege. Authors and the Guild have been incredibly well served by her these past nine years, and you should be glad that this publisher will have a lawyer within its ranks who is so sensitive to authors' issues. -- gcp

Gloria C. Phares
Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler LLP
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, N.Y. 10036
(212) 336-2686
(212) 336-7978 (direct fax)
gcphares[_at_]pbwt.com
www.pbwt.com Received on Thu Aug 11 2005 - 02:10:00 GMT