Press Releases

Release Date: January 2, 2007

Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction in SIFMA Suit to Protect Privacy of Children

Contact:
Jeannie Bunton (202) 216-2067

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 2, 2007 – The Hon. Stefan R. Underhill, U.S. District Court (D. Conn.), this evening granted a preliminary injunction to stop the state from publishing the names of dependent children of state contractors on the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission’s Internet site.

“Judge Underhill’s ruling is a win for the Constitution and for Connecticut's many state contractors who are concerned about their childrens' privacy and safety,” said Ira Hammerman, General Counsel of SIFMA. “The Judge made clear in his oral ruling that parents have a privacy interest in protecting their childrens’ names from disclosure on the Internet.  We look forward to working with the state to find a solution that ensures the safety and privacy of children and serves the public interest.”

On December 15, 2006, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) filed suit over the posting provisions of Connecticut Campaign Finance Law, which require the names of children and spouses of state contractors to be published on the Internet by December 31, 2006.  SIFMA argued that the disclosure provision of the Law is unsafe and unconstitutional.

Visit www.sia.com/ct_lawsuit to find the legal complaint, and other resources on this issue.

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The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association brings together the shared interests of more than 650 securities firms, banks and asset managers. SIFMA's mission is to promote policies and practices that work to expand and perfect markets, foster the development of new products and services and create efficiencies for member firms, while preserving and enhancing the public's trust and confidence in the markets and the industry. SIFMA works to represent its members’ interests locally and globally. It has offices in New York, Washington D.C., and London and its associated firm, the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, is based in Hong Kong.