For eight years in the 1990s, Attorney Charles Ware hosted the extremely popular legal advice radio program "The Lawyer's Mailbox"; the Number One (#1)legal advice radio program in the Mid-Atlantic Region,on WEAA - 88.9 FM, Morgan State University Radio in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

LIVING IN GLASS HOUSES? BEWARE PHOTOGS: PRIVACY LAW Update by Charles Ware, Attorney and Author

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com ("We fight.  You win.")

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX-TV NEWS, WHUR, WHUT, MPT, BBC, The Wall Street Journal, ABA Journal, et al.]

New York Family Living In Glass House Sues Photographer Who Took Pictures With Zoom Lens For Art Exhibit:

After news that a Manhattan photographer used a telephoto zoom lens to take surreptitiously pictures for an art exhibit of his across-the-street neighbors in an upscale high-rise with floor-to-ceiling windows, at least one family has sued.

Others at the Zinc Building are purchasing window coverings, according to Courthouse News and the New York Observer [Courthouse News Service/Friday, May 24, 2013/www.courthousenews/5-24-2013; New York Observer, observer.com/5-2013].

Kravetz says she recognized herself in two of the photos on display at Svenson's Chelsea art exhibit.
“What does he have that we haven’t seen? He probably took thousands or more," Kravetz told the Post. "I have a young daughter. It’s more than me. Does he have any of her? That’s my biggest concern.”

Similar concerns were expressed by Martha and Matthew Foster, who said in a Manhattan Supreme Court suit that they were "deeply distressed" to find that their two young children are identifiable in photos that shows the tots wearing a diaper and a swimsuit.

In addition to potentially "compromising their safety and security," Svenson's zoom-lens photography, now that they know about it, is forcing them to keep their window blinds drawn whenever they are home, the couple alleges.

Their suit seeks an injunction to prevent dissemination of the photos, which are reportedly for sale, and compensatory and punitive damages. In addition to asserting a claim against Svenson for intentional infliction of emotional distress, it appears from the Courthouse News article that the family may also be asserting a right to publicity.

Svenson did not immediately respond to a request by Courthouse News for comment, and the news agency, citing an unidentified lawyer specializing in media law, said case decisions in New York allow photographs to be taken from public property but may not permit shooting through windows with a zoom lens.

The Associated Press earlier reported that attorney Norman Siegel indicated that the right of the photographer to artistic expression would have to be balanced against the privacy rights of those depicted. He also suggested that individuals who are not identifiable in Svenson's photos might have a tough time prevailing in court [www.abajournal.com/news/article/5-29-2013].

Svenson himself suggested that his across-the-street neighbors in the the Zinc Building essentially agreed to be photographed, because they live in units with floor-to-ceiling windows, USA Today reported earlier.

An article in The New Yorker about the exhibit includes a slide show of some of Svenson's photos of the residents of the building [The New Yorker/www.newyorker.com/5-20-2013].

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