Extreme Associates Seeks Dismissal of Obscenity Case

PITTSBURGH, Penn. — During a series of pretrial filings before its federal obscenity case goes to trial, Extreme Associates and its co-owners Robert Zicari and wife Janet Romano have filed a motion to dismiss the indictments against them. The motion was filed Jan. 31.

Zicari and Romano, better known in the adult industry as Rob Black and Lizzy Borden are seeking a dismissal of obscenity charges filed by the U.S. government in 2003 for distributing three videos via the mail and six images over the Internet — all alleged by prosecutors to be obscene material.

In a motion for dismissal filed by Extreme attorneys H. Louis Sirkin and Jennifer M. Kinsley, Extreme Associates asked that the court dismiss all pending charges on the grounds that federal obscenity statutes are unconstitutional and do not apply to the Internet.

In lieu of a dismissal, Extreme is requesting a pretrial ruling as to the applicability of the Miller test for obscenity as it relates to the content named in the indictment. The defense argues that the Miller test’s requirement that the content be taken as a whole is impossible in the context of the worldwide Internet community and that the Miller test’s reliance upon community standards to determine whether a particular work is obscene is not viable in an online environment.

“For example, the federal obscenity statutes are unworkable when applied to the Internet because they mandate that the material be taken as a whole, an impossible task for computerized content that is entirely interconnected; and that the material be judged by the contemporary community standards of the district of prosecution, equally an implausible standard when website operators cannot control the geographic areas in which their material is accessed or viewed,” Kinsley wrote.

Additionally, Extreme Associates has requested a change of venue to the Central District of California because the company did not purposefully distribute or direct allegedly obscene materials to the Western District of Pennsylvania.

The assumption that the trial must convene from where the material was sent or received does not hold true for the Internet, Sirkin wrote. Since Extreme posted material to the Internet, it was powerless to restrict access to it by geographic region. Sirkin argued that the venue should be moved to where Extreme is based because that is where the company knowingly conduct business.

Judge Gary Lancaster originally dismissed the case in January 2005, ruling that the anti-obscenity statutes were unconstitutional when applied to Extreme Associates because they violated an individual’s right to privacy.

The Justice Department appealed that ruling before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which overruled Lancaster.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Extreme’s appeal from the 3rd Circuit, sending the case back to Lancaster for trial. Upon learning of the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case, Zicari said it was “a big fuck you.”

Black and Sirkin were unavailable to comment at press time.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Leilani Li Fronts Latest From TransAngels

Leilani Li stars with Tony Genius in the latest release from TransAngels, titled “Breathe In, Stretched Out.”

Elania Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Creator Elania stars with her husband Shaun and Hollywood Cash in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

Alaina Taylor, Octavia Red Topline 'Lesbian Tutors 11'

Alaina Taylor and Octavia Red headline "Lesbian Tutors 11" from Girlfriends Films.

West Coast Productions Showcase 'Hazel Grace: Reflections' Premieres

Hazel Grace gets the spotlight in a new five-part showcase release from West Coast Productions (WCP).

Lexi Luna Stars in Latest From MILFY

Lexi Luna stars with Parker Ambrose in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint MILFY.

EU Advocate General: France Can Require Foreign Sites to Implement AV

An advocate general of the European Union’s Court of Justice on Thursday advised the court to rule that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU states to implement age verification in accordance with French law.

Hentaied Founder Romero 'Mr. Alien' on Fetish, Fantasy and Finding Order in Chaos

A sharp sting pierces the woman’s skin. Something foreign slips beneath the surface. Eggs, maybe. She doesn’t know it yet, but soon her body will become a vessel, a hive, a source of contamination.

Bree Mills Unpacks Power, Pain and Family Ties in New Pure Taboo Film

Bell is shooting a scene for “The Secrets We Share,” a new feature from Pure Taboo and Adult Time — and moments like this remind the crew that they are not out to make just another adult movie.

Cubbi Thompson Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Cubbi Thompson stars with Keiran Lee in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Slippery Business."

Adult Time Drops 'Hard Stop Reunion Show'

Adult Time has released the "Hard Stop Reunion Show," a discussion roundtable with cast members of the recent Bree Mills-helmed feature.

Show More