CVN screenshot of Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri testifying in New Mexico
Nashville, TN - A lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of Tennessee against Facebook and Instagram parent-company Meta Platforms Inc. alleging Instagram use causes harm to minors starts jury selection Monday in Tennessee state court, and the full trial will be webcast live and on-demand by Courtroom View Network gavel-to-gavel from opening statements forward.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti sued Meta in 2023 alleging the company violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act by misleading users about the harms supposedly associated with Instagram use by minors such as increased depression, anxiety and lack of sleep. The lawsuit, the product of a coalition of state AG’s pursuing similar claims, alleges Meta knew about these supposed harms, but the company argues it implemented robust safety features that exceed many other heavily-trafficked websites.
The case marks the fourth trial this year in state courts involving claims related to minors’ use of Meta social media platforms. Earlier this year at another trial webcast by CVN, a New Mexico State court jury returned a verdict $375 million verdict in a lawsuit accusing Meta of failing to adequately protect underage social media users from online exploitation. At a subsequent bench trial in New Mexico also covered by CVN the state asked for $3.7 billion in public nuisance remediation damages, with a decision still pending from the judge.
Another trial in California state court that was not subject to electronic media coverage resulted in a $3 million verdict.
In addition to related litigation pending in other state courts, the trial before Chancellor Russell T. Perkins in the Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville is also drawing scrutiny due to a potential federal bellwether social media trial looming later this summer in multi district litigation consolidated in California.
Each of the trials to date has featured a different plaintiff firm. The California case (which did not involve the state AG’s office) was headed up by The Lanier Law Firm, with the New Mexico trials helmed by Motley Rice. The TN AG’s office is represented at the upcoming Nashville trial by Missouri-based Wagstaff & Cartmell.
Meta is represented by Kellogg Hansen.
Opening statements are expected mid-week, and the trial is slated to take roughly seven weeks to complete. CVN’s webcast will allow viewers to watch both live in real-time and also to re-watch proceedings on-demand both during and after the trial.
For information about individual and group/firm-wide subscription rates contact CVN via email here.
The case is captioned State of Tennessee v. Meta Platforms Inc., case number 23-1364-IV.
Email David Siegel at dsiegel@cvn.com
