Lawsuit Tests Limits Of New York State’s ‘Shield Law’

NEW YORK (AP) — A civil case pending in a New York state appeals court is testing the limits of state legislation that protects journalists from revealing anonymous sources.

Murray Energy Corporation, a coal mining company, is seeking an order from the New York Supreme Court to force Reorg Research Inc., a Manhattan-based corporate intelligence firm, to disclose anonymous sources believed to be investors liable for breach of contract.

The New York Times reports (http://nyti.ms/2rXOjvz ) news alerts sent by Reorg to subscribers used information from anonymous sources to report the corporation had reached a collective bargaining agreement with workers.

New York state has legislation known as a "shield law," originally passed in 1970 by Republican Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, which protects New York journalists from revealing anonymous sources.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com