In this case, the ACLU represented Howard Wallace, of the gay and lesbian group Solidarity. Solidarity defended itself against inquiries regarding the names of its members, its sources of financial support, and the scope of its activities following the cancellation of a contract between Coors brewery and KQED, a public television station in San Francisco. Coors had volunteered to sponsor one day of a three day "teleauction" to raise funds and public support for KQED. Coors claims that Wallace met with KQED leadership privately to dissuade them from working with Coors, and sought damages in the amount of $13,000 for lost promotional and advertising opportunities. Wallace, a member of Solidarity and the head of the Northern California Boycott Committee (which exists to exert pressure on plaintiffs to modify their political positions) asserts that his only connection to Coors and KQED is a Solidarity flier with a "Boycott Coors" message printed on the back, and Wallace's membership in Solidarity.

Over the course of the lawsuit, in which interrogatories were filed seeking information about Solidarity, the organization objected to answering certain questions that it felt "chilled" its freedom of political expression. Solidarity proposed to answer modified versions of the original questions - a proposal that Coors rejected. Solidarity also expressed a desire that this information only be shared with the parties involved and their counsel.

The judge ordered that Solidarity answer the modified questions, that the information only be shared with the parties involved in the lawsuit, and argued that Solidarity's claim to constitutional privilege was not justified. The judge also ordered Solidarity to pay penalties in the amount of $6291.