SLAPP-Blog — Public Participation Project

Court agrees that Google’s search results qualify as free speech

The regulation of Google’s search results has come up from time to time over the past decade, and although the idea has gained some traction in Europe (most recently with “right to be forgotten” laws), courts and regulatory bodies in the US have generally agreed that Google’s search results are considered free speech. That consensus was upheld last Thursday, when a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Google’s right to order its search results as it sees fit.

The owner of a website called CoastNews, S. Louis Martin, argued that Google was unfairly putting CoastNews too far down in search results, while Bing and Yahoo were turning up CoastNews in the number one spot. CoastNews claimed that violated antitrust laws. It also took issue with Google’s refusal to deliver ads to its website after CoastNews posted photographs of a nudist colony in the Santa Cruz mountains.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniNovember 19, 2014State Anti-SLAPP, California Comment

How Does A Negative Amazon Review Result In Threats Of A Lawsuit?

Writing a product review on Amazon is usually a pretty mundane process: Pick a star rating, leave a few words, hit “submit,” and immediately forget about it. For one man, though, the process just got a whole lot more interesting (in the bad way). Eight months after a Florida man panned a product online, the company’s lawyer delivered a fresh new legal threat to his doorstep — retract the review, or face a libel suit.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniMay 8, 2014Florida, State Anti-SLAPP, Consumer Speech

PPP Policy Director Evan Mascagni 2014 PA Testimony

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniMarch 25, 2014Pennsylvania

"Yellow Journalist" Loses Defamation Lawsuit, Showing Need for Anti-SLAPP Statutes

An editor at the Ionia, Michigan Sentinel-Standard lost the defamation lawsuit she filed against local citizens who complained about her reporting and called her a "yellow journalist."

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniNovember 6, 2013Michigan, Defamation

ICA Interprets Hawaii’s anti-SLAPP statute

The Intermediate Court of Appeals of Hawaii affirmed the circuit court’s decision in holding that a lawsuit did not constitute a SLAPP under the state’s anti-SLAPP law.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniFebruary 13, 2013Hawaii, State Anti-SLAPP, Hawai'i

Kentucky Miner Sued By Former Employer For Filing Discrimination Complaint

A miner in Kentucky was sued by his former employer after filing a discrimination suit against the mining company. The miner had raised concerns about the safety of working conditions before being fired, and claimed the mine’s lawsuit was filed “expressly to send a message” to employees who spoke up about safety problems.

Virginia Builder Sues Customer Over Negative Yelp Review

A Virginia builder filed a lawsuit against a customer who left a negative Yelp review, saying the review harmed his company’s reputation. The customer’s review claimed that the company allegedly charged her for work not done, damaged her home and stole her jewelry.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJanuary 29, 2013Virginia, Consumer Speech

Rarely used statute in Vermont helps student journalists escape a frivolous libel lawsuit

A federal court dismissed a libel lawsuit filed by a North Carolina politician who claimed his 2012 presidential campaign was destroyed by a profile written by two student journalists from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. The court relied on the Vermont anti-SLAPP law in dismissing the suit, and the politician was ordered to pay $23,336 in attorney’s fees.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJanuary 18, 2013Vermont, Press & Media SLAPPs

Ore. dentist sues patient for $300,000 for bad online review

A dentist sued a former patient because the patient posted negative reviews about him online.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniSeptember 1, 2012Oregon, Consumer Speech, State Anti-SLAPP

The AP Settles Over NBA Twitter Lawsuit, Pays $20,000 Fine

The Associated Press settled a lawsuit with an NBA referee who felt he was defamed by a tweet from one of their writers, paying $20,000 in damages and removing the tweet from the account.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniDecember 8, 2011Minnesota, Defamation, Social Media

Oregon's first Twitter libel lawsuit pits Tigard doctor against Portland blogger

A Portland, Oregon blogger faced a $1 million defamation lawsuit from a medical spa doctor after she blogged and tweeted about his practice. The blogger’s lawyer filed an anti-SLAPP motion to get the case dismissed.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniOctober 11, 2011Oregon, Defamation, State Anti-SLAPP, Social Media

Judge seeks review of anti-SLAPP law

Following a lawsuit filed in Washington County Superior Court by national activist Ralph Nader, a judge in Maine said the state’s anti-SLAPP law needs further review by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJanuary 4, 2011Maine, State Anti-SLAPP

College basketball coach settles defamation lawsuit

University of Mississippi’s basketball coach settled a defamation lawsuit with a cab driver and a valet stemming from a dispute over a ride.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniAugust 17, 2010Ohio, Defamation

Native company sues reporter, media over 8(a) story

An Alaska Native corporation filed a lawsuit against a California reporter and two news outlets in federal court in Alaska, claiming a story investigating the company's federal contract to replace a rail bridge and train tracks in Napa Valley damaged its reputation.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniApril 20, 2010Alaska, Defamation

Dixie Chicks Singer Wins "West Memphis Three" Defamation Suit

A federal judge ruled Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines didn't defame a father mourning for his murdered stepson and has ordered the man to pay the singer's legal fees.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniApril 19, 2010Arkansas, Defamation

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