Skip Navigation PEOPLE SERVICES FIRM MORE PRESS COVERAGE BACK TO PRESS COVERAGE Maine Newspapers Fight Anonymous Testimony in Lawsuit Challenging Vaccine Mandate Portland Press Herald November 10, 2021 share this page Link to this item A group of newspapers in Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Waterville, represented by Preti Flaherty attorney Sigmund Schutz, have filed a motion in federal court requesting the identity of nine healthcare workers seeking religious exemption from the state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees in the healthcare industry. The nine individuals are plaintiffs in a lawsuit that was originally filed in U.S. District Court in Portland in August 2021 and were allowed by the court at that time to proceed with their case under the protection of anonymity. In response to the motion, managing editor of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram Steve Greenlee said, "Keeping the names of these plaintiffs secret deprives the public of important information. . . . This isn’t a private case like a custody dispute. . . . The litigation in question is challenging the way our leaders are handling a public health crisis. Our judicial system should be transparent in matters of community concern.” An Excerpt Sigmund Schutz, attorney for the newspapers, called it the “snowball effect” and said it would undermine a fundamental principle of the U.S. justice system. “Our court system doesn’t allow people to litigate anonymously, especially on an issue of great importance to so many people,” Schutz said. “We believe the public has a right to know who filed this lawsuit. We don’t believe they have a right to litigate anonymously.” Related People Sigmund D. Schutz Related Services Media Law Firm Highlights NEWS Preti Flaherty Attorneys Sig Schutz and Alex Harriman Assist with Amicus Brief in Defense of Maine's Anti-SLAPP Law Serving as counsel for The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) and 14 other news media organizations, Preti Flaherty attorneys Sigmund Schutz and Alexandra Harriman filed with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court a... PUBLICATION Not So Fast: OSHA’s ETS in Limbo While Challenges Play Out Over the weekend, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked the emergency mandatory vaccine and testing regulations published in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As of November 9, 2021... PRESS COVERAGE In Reversal, Maine CDC Will Allow "Advocacy Journalists" into Next COVID-19 Briefing Following an announcement by Gov. Janet Mills, representatives from the Maine People's Alliance and the Maine Policy Institute will be allowed to attend and participate in the weekly livestream COVID-19 briefings presented by the Maine Center for Disease... 2021 Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, Chartered, LLP Contact Us Cloud Storage File Transfer Disclaimer / Privacy