Margaret Strouse is a mid-level associate in the Litigation Department with a focus on media and entertainment. She represents journalists, news organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other content creators in a wide variety of matters. She defends media clients against defamation, privacy, and intellectual property claims, in addition to providing them prepublication counseling and newsgathering advice. Maggie also has extensive experience in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation and challenging restrictions on the rights of access to court records and proceedings. She also advises clients on responding to copyright infringement claims and registering trademarks.
Experience
Representative Matters
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Represented the Washington Post in a D.C. FOIA suit against the Metropolitan Police Department for access to a retired police officer's excessive force complaints and personnel files after he was arrested for meeting a minor for sex. The court granted the Post’s motion for summary judgment and ordered the release of all public records after finding that there is a strong nationwide call for police accountability and the officer’s privacy interest is negated because he openly boasted about his use of excessive force while he held a top role in the police department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit. The court also awarded the Post its attorney’s fees without briefing on the issue.
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Defended a major streaming service and production company against a trademark and copyright infringement claim in the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia related to an episode of a popular documentary series.
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Obtained public records on behalf of a Minnesota-based newspaper through a FOIA lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense related to military leaders' communications with Minnesota officials during the civil unrest in May 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Margaret has an active pro bono practice and currently represents the Brennan Center for Justice and Data for Black Lives in bringing a D.C. FOIA lawsuit seeking Metropolitan Police Department documents regarding social media monitoring of citizens. Through two years of litigation, she has negotiated the release of over 160,000 public records describing how the police track social media. She has also worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a successful FOIA action against the U.S. Marshals Service that sought the release of documents related to the continuation of private prison contracts following President Biden’s executive order banning such contracts.
She has also worked on numerous Time’s Up cases, including representing a struggling actress who was sued for defamation by her former acting coach after she publicized her opinion that his acting classes were cult-like. Margaret also works with Time’s Up clients on media training to discuss sexual assault allegations with lessened legal risk.
Margaret also provides pro bono prepublication advice and newsroom trainings for media organizations.
She has also worked on numerous Time’s Up cases, including representing a struggling actress who was sued for defamation by her former acting coach after she publicized her opinion that his acting classes were cult-like. Margaret also works with Time’s Up clients on media training to discuss sexual assault allegations with lessened legal risk.
Margaret also provides pro bono prepublication advice and newsroom trainings for media organizations.
Professional Activities
Media Law Resource Center
American Bar Association, Forum on Communications Law
District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association
Publications
Co-author, "Washington Post Wins Suit Seeking Disciplinary Records of Former LGBTQ and Community Policing Liaison with History of Excessive Force," MLRC MediaLawLetter, 2023
Author, "Blackwater Founder Erik Prince's Claims Against The Intercept Dismissed for Lack of Actual Malice," MLRC MediaLawLetter, 2023
Author, "Ninth Circuit Holds Senator Warren's Letter to Amazon Was Protected as Persuasive Speech," MLRC MediaLawLetter, 2023
Credentials
Education
American University Washington College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2020)
American University Law Review
Wake Forest University (B.A., cum laude, 2017)
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia