Recent defamation suits in Idaho have highlighted the ability of wealthy parties to use frivolous legal claims to unfairly drain the resources of their less affluent opponents. Idaho is one of only 18 states who have no anti-SLAPP law on the books currently. Opinion writer Bryan Clark discusses the need for a state-wide anti-SLAPP law here.
Read MoreNew Jersey Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D) and Sen. Joseph Lagana (D) introduced Bill A4393 in June. This legislation would provide an expedited motion to dismiss SLAPP suits in the state, which currently has no anti-SLAPP law. Modelled after the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, the bill emphasizes the protection of free speech in all forms, including protests, publications, and more. Read more in the New Jersey Monitor.
Read MoreWhy Iowa needs a new law to protect your right to free expression on matters of public concern.
Read MoreIn aims of strengthening its SLAPP protections, Hawaii’s legislature passed the “Hawaii Public Expression Protection Act.”
Read MoreWhile the Depp v. Heard trial took the media by storm, it also sparked the interest of the legal community. Specifically, in regards to anti-SLAPP laws.
Read MoreAfter facing repercussions for “misleading Massachusetts investors about the fossil fuel-driven climate change risks to its business and deceptively advertising its fossil fuel products to Massachusetts consumers.” Exxon tried to dismiss the suit using anti-SLAPP laws. The Massachusetts supreme judicial court denied the motion preserving the purpose of the anti-SLAPP law.
Read MoreKentucky becomes part of the nation who protects the first amendment from the bullying used in courts. Adopting the new ULC bill in April 2020
Read MoreWashington State has now changed their anti-SLAPP laws in an effort to restore the protections after the courts ruled their prior versions unconstitutional.
Read MorePPP Policy Director, Evan Mascagni, recently wrote a blog post for the California Anti-SLAPP Project on Devin Nunes.
Read MoreNew York Expanded their anti-SLAPP laws even more. Making them one of the more thorough states in the country at protecting people’s first amendments.
*Reprinted with permission from: New York State Bar Association Journal, December 2019, Vol. 91, No. 9, published by the New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207.
Read MoreLast night, John Oliver devoted 26 minutes of his show to explain the importance of anti-SLAPP legislation and PPP’s efforts to fight SLAPPs across the country.
Read MoreAfter momentum fizzled the first time around, state Sen. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, re-introduced an Ohio bill meant to curtail frivolous lawsuits that target individuals for practicing protected speech.
Known as the Ohio Citizen Participation Act, the bill would create an expedited legal framework for courts to follow if a SLAPP, or strategic lawsuit against public participation, ends up in civil court.
Huffman, who re-introduced the bill during a Tuesday morning press conference, said the bill’s purpose is to encourage public discussion and discourage the use of lawsuits that effectively stymie conversation by saddling individuals with unfair court procedure. Similar bills have been adopted by 36 other states by both conservative and liberal legislatures.
Read MoreColorado Governor Jared Polis Signs anti-SLAPP bill, protecting journalists from retaliatory lawsuits, into law.
Read MoreThe South Florida Sun Sentinel did not defy a court order last week when it published confidential information about Nikolas Cruz’s education record, lawyers for the news organization argued.
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