On August 20, LOKC prevailed in federal court on behalf of Dr. Meryl Nass, a physician who publicly spoke about COVID-19 policies and medical treatment. The firm is proud to share a significant result for our client in a case that has received national attention, with Attorney Tyler Smith receiving praise from one of the premier First Amendment scholars in the country for his work on the relevant brief – read more here.
In simple terms, after the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine investigated Dr. Nass over her public comments, the Board ordered her to undergo a psychological evaluation and immediately suspended her medical license. We challenged those actions in federal court, arguing that they violated her constitutional rights.
The Court rejected the Board members’ arguments to dismiss the case, allowing Dr. Nass’s First Amendment retaliation claim to move forward. In doing so, the Court also raised serious concerns about whether the Board’s process was influenced by political pressure.
This is an important step for our client and an important case involving the intersection of free speech, professional licensing, and government authority.
We are proud of the work our team put into this case and grateful for the opportunity to advocate for our client in a matter with implications well beyond Maine!
