Stanley Fleishman Collection, 1943-1999, bulk 1982-1999

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Summary

Creators:
Fleishman, Stanley
Abstract:
Stanley Fleishman (1920-1999) is a lawyer known primarily for trying First Amendment obscenity cases. He was also very active advocating on behalf of the legal rights of the disabled community. Prior to his work, the wheelchair-bound were not permitted to serve on juries in California. The Stanley Fleishman Collection documents a small segment of Fleishman's personal and professional life as a trial lawyer in Southern California.
Extent:
8.89 linear feet and 36.3 Gigabytes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The Stanley Fleishman Collection documents a small segment of Fleishman's personal and professional life as a trial lawyer in Southern California. He is known primarily for arguing First Amendment cases and for his work advocating for the legal rights of the disabled community. Several of his later cases are represented, most notable that of Rubin Gottesman in United States v. X-Citement Video. The collection is arranged in two series: Professional Files (1943-1999) and Personal Files (1961-1995).

Series I, Professional Files, makes up the bulk of the collection and has been further divided into three subseries. General Professional Files (1960-1999), consists primarily of newspaper and magazine clippings and interview transcripts that discuss Fleishman's life and/or work. Also included is his work on the Disabled Californians for Tom Bradley Committee and several articles authored by Fleishman. The subseries also includes awards and video recordings and is arranged alphabetically. Court Documents (1971-1999), consist of motions, transcripts, and other legal case materials regarding several of Fleishman's cases including the Rubin Gottsman X-Citement Video case. Materials are arranged alphabetically by applicant. Research and Exhibits (1943-1998), consists of court decisions, articles, and audio and video recordings related to his case work, and is arranged alphabetically.

Series II, Personal Files, is a small series consisting of Fleishman's home movies. These are arranged alphabetically by the title supplied on the original video cassette.

Biographical / historical:

Stanley Fleishman (1920-1999), of the Los Angeles area law firm Fleishman & Fisher, was noted for trying First Amendment cases and advocating for the legal rights of the disabled community.

Born in New York, Fleishman grew up in Queens. Stricken with polio at the age of 1, he lost significant use of one arm and both legs. He attended the University of Georgia, Brooklyn College, and the Columbia School of Law, graduating in 1944. He moved to Los Angeles in 1946.

Known for his advocacy of the First Amendment, Fleishman's high-profile cases included the adult film Deep Throat, Henry Miller's once-banned book Tropic of Cancer, and the chain of Pussycat Theaters. He also defended the owner of an adult video store accused of trafficking in child pornography when he sold tapes in which Traci Lords was featured.

Fleishman was also a fierce advocate for those with physical disabilities. Through the judicial process, he was able to have wheelchair-bound, blind, and deaf citizens admitted to juries. Fleishman advocated on their behalf for job opportunities, access to public transit, and against other class-based discriminatory practices. He was active with the Western Law Center for the Handicapped and the Institute for the Disabled and the Elderly at Southwestern Law School.

Acquisition information:
Susan Fleishman. 06/15/2001.
Processing information:

April Feldman, 2014

Arrangement:

Series I. Professional Files, 1943-1999

Subseries A: General Professional Files, 1960-1999

Subseries B: Court Documents, 1971-1999

Subseries C: Research and Exhibits, 1943-1998

Series II. Personal Files, 1961-1995

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
Website