SAN FRANCISCO Judge William Alsup’s unprecedented order requiring Oracle Corp. and Google Inc. to disclose payments to journalists has been generating headlines the past two weeks. But the San Francisco federal judge’s distinctive handling of another high-profile case also was front and center before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit earlier this month.
In CTIA The Wireless Association v. City and County of San Francisco, 11-17707, the cellular phone industry is trying to block San Francisco from forcing it to disclose possible health risks of cellphone usage. Alsup ruled last October that the city overstepped with its plan of forcing retailers to hand out literature with “alarmist” language and imagery. But he invited the city to revise its fact sheet, and when it did so in line with Alsup’s suggestions, the judge approved it.
