Court: Order Requesting Removal of Pages from Asbestos Firm’s Website ‘Unlawful Restraint’ on Free Speech

LOS ANGELES –– A California appellate court has found that a trial court decision ordering an asbestos plaintiff attorney to remove pages from her web site boasting her trial record, was “more extensive than necessary.”

However, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled on Oct. 30 that it could not grant the plaintiffs’ petition for writ of mandate challenging the “improper” order since the order was no longer in effect.

The underlying claims were filed on behalf of Richard Steiner, whose lung cancer, according to the plaintiffs, was allegedly caused by asbestos exposure. Steiner, a smoker, argued at …