Kramer Levin Wins Dismissal for JP Morgan Chase of Case Claiming First Amendment Right to Demonstrate in Plaza

Kramer Levin obtained a victory for our client JP Morgan Chase (“JPMC”) in federal court in Manhattan when Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald dismissed all claims against JPMC in Rodriguez v. Winski, a suit filed by supporters of Occupy Wall Street against numerous defendants. The plaintiffs asserted that JPMC had violated demonstrators’ First Amendment rights by not allowing Occupy Wall Street to enter the plaza outside JPMC’s building at One Chase Manhattan Plaza in the Financial District. Judge Buchwald held that JPMC had established that the plaza is purely private property unencumbered by any zoning requirements or deed or other restrictions compelling JPMC to allow demonstrators in the plaza. Partners Jeffrey L. Braun and Michael T. Sillerman, special counsel Patrick Sullivan, associates Samantha M. Ford and Megan H. Daneshrad, and law clerk Sara Lefkovitz worked on the matter.