L.B. Sullivan was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, known for his role as a commissioner in Montgomery, Alabama. He became widely recognized due to a landmark Supreme Court case, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which addressed issues of free speech and libel. The case arose when Sullivan sued the New York Times for publishing an advertisement that he claimed defamed him. The Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the New York Times established the "actual malice" standard, which protects the press from liability unless it can be proven that false statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. This decision significantly shaped the landscape of American journalism and free expression.