Posts in Federal Anti-Slapp
Congressional hearing analyzes how fossil fuel companies weaponize lawsuits against free speech

At a hearing held by Rep. Jamie Raskin, members of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties discussed whether fossil fuel companies use SLAPPs to intimidate free speech. Raskin noted that through these suits, individuals and civic groups who speak on climate-related issues can face expensive and protracted litigation levelled by the corporations. Read more about the discussion, which touched on global and domestic activism and the need for a federal anti-SLAPP law, in the House press release.

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Why decisions in DC illustrate the need for a federal anti-SLAPP law (Part 2)

In the second post of a three-part series from guest contributor Leslie Paul Machado, Chair of LeClairRyan's Media, Internet and E-commerce Industry Team, Mr. Machado discusses the D.C. Circuit's decision on whether the D.C. anti-SLAPP statute can be used in federal diversity cases.

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Bill Outlawing "Gag Clauses" That Punish Customers for Writing Negative Reviews Goes to the President

After more than a year of waiting, Congress has finally okayed a piece of legislation that, if signed by the president, will stop companies from using so-called “non-disparagement” or “gag” clauses to prevent or discourage customers from writing honest reviews.

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Why we need federal anti-SLAPP

From Sasha Moss at R Street: Donald Trump has promised that if he becomes president, he’s going to “open up those libel laws so when The New York Times writes a hit piece we can sue them and win money.” To date, he’s already filed six libel suits. Highlights include his recent suit against Timothy O’Brien, author of “Trump Nation,” for asserting his net worth isn’t as high as Trump claimed it is, and toward comedian Bill Maher, who requested Trump prove he’s not the “spawn of an orangutan.”

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SPEAK FREE Act Hearing Review

 

Since the introduction of the SPEAK FREE Act of 2015 in May, momentum has been building to enact this important legislation.  The bill now has more than 30 co-sponsors in the House and there was a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on June 22, 2016.  You can view that hearing here.

Here is just some of the coverage that the Speak Free Act has been receiving:

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Online Speech Backers' Newest Fear: Trump

PPP Policy Director Evan Mascagni was recently quoted in a Politico article about SLAPPs and Donald Trump:

Trump’s litigiousness has extended into the presidential campaign. In November, following reports of a $2.5 million pro-Kasich super PAC investment in anti-Trump ads, Trump tweeted: “I will sue him just for fun!

In some cases, he has openly acknowledged that going to court is less about seeking justice and more about joyfully punishing enemies.

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