Family of Dead Soldier Sues Tee-Shirt Seller in Class Action

A Tennessee couple, Robin and Michael Read, who lost their son in Iraq has sued an Arizona tee-shirt maker, Dan Frazier for selling anti-war tee-shirts with the names of dead soldiers (including their son). They are seeking $40 billion in damages in a class action lawsuit.

Dan Frazier of Flagstaff has triggered a series of state laws criminalizing the use of the name or image of dead soldiers for commercial purposes. As noted in this column, the laws raise serious constitutional questions under the first amendment.

Previously, a federal judge in Arizona ruled that the criminal portions of these laws violatethe First Amendment. Arizona is among several states that have enacted similar laws.

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