SLAPP-Blog — Public Participation Project

How a Proposed First Amendment Law Would Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Ohio

PPP Policy Director Evan Mascagni published an Op-Ed in Ohio that ran in several newspapers across the state advocating for anti-SLAPP legislation in Ohio. The Op-Ed is published in full below.

Immediately following a report by the New York Times that he allegedly sexually assaulted numerous women throughout his career, Harvey Weinstein threatened to sue the Times for defamation. For First Amendment legal scholars, this comes as no surprise. There’s a long history of powerful bullies attempting to use the legal system to silence their critics.

Forbes: Anti-SLAPP Statutory Oddities

Jay Adkisson's Forbes recent article gives a thorough overview of Anti-SLAPP statutes. Click through for the article.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniNovember 2, 2017State Anti-SLAPP

Senator's Company Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Reporting on Unpaid Labor Complaints

A plastics company filed a defamation lawsuit against a lawyer who brought one of two lawsuits naming the company as a defendant over an arrangement in which drug court defendants work without pay for private businesses.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniNovember 2, 2017Arkansas, Defamation

A Comedian Called Out an Alleged Rapist—And Was Sued for $38 Million

A comedian was served an eye-popping $38 million defamation lawsuit by a fellow comedian after she’d referred to him as a “rapist” on social media.

Officials sue developer for defamation in "Muslim" housing case

Top officials sued the builder of a housing development, alleging he defamed them by accusing them of anti-Muslim discrimination.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniOctober 27, 2017Maryland, Defamation

Commentary: Safeguarding free speech in New York still just a vision

PPP Policy Director Evan Mascagni published an Op-Ed in the Albany Times Union advocating for stronger anti-SLAPP legislation in New York:

"New York is often regarded as the media capital of the world, but in our state, opinions expressed through traditional media outlets, blogs, social media and consumer review websites are not always protected from those who disagree with them."

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniOctober 23, 2017Evan Mascagni, New York, State Anti-SLAPP

Massachusetts: PPP Supports H2263 and S756

This morning, the Public Participation Project submitted the below letter to the Massachusetts’ Judicial Committee in support of H2263 and S756, an anti-SLAPP bill currently before the Massachusetts House and Senate.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniSeptember 12, 2017Massachusetts, State Anti-SLAPP

Disney paying at least $177 million to settle "pink slime" lawsuit

ABC News made an historically large payout to settle a defamation lawsuit, according to a financial release from the network's parent company Disney and an attorney for the plaintiff.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniAugust 9, 2017South Dakota, Defamation

Competitive Enterprise Institute Appeal Dismissed By Court

The Competitive Enterprise Institute's appeal of their anti-SLAPP motion has been dismissed. Read LeClairRyan's summary of the saga on Lexology here.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniAugust 8, 2017DC, State Anti-SLAPP

Litigator of the Week: The King of Texas' Animal Anti-SLAPP Kingdom

Texas Laywer's Litigator of the week is defense laywer Adam Milasincic, who has used Texas' anti-SLAPP Statute twice this year to defend his clients for speaking out about an animal rights issue. Read more here.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniAugust 4, 2017Texas, State Anti-SLAPP

Court dismisses former state superintendent's defamation lawsuit against former lawmaker

A judge dismissed former state Superintendent’s defamation lawsuit against a onetime state representative, and called the comments at the center of the case “the exact type of statements the First Amendment was intending to protect.”

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJuly 31, 2017Wyoming, Defamation

California's Ninth Circuit: Anti-SLAPP motion not a defense for contract claims

Sarah Bro with the National Law Review writes:

"In an action involving the popular film series The Purge, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court denial of the defendants’ anti-SLAPP motion, holding that the plaintiff’s breach of implied-in-fact contract claim under state law did not arise from protected free speech activity."

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJuly 27, 2017California, State Anti-SLAPP

Connecticut Lawmakers Drop Anti-SLAPP, Libel Tourism Bills On The Governor's Desk

Tim Cushing at Techdirt offers an analysis of CT's new anti-SLAPP law, which was recently unanimously passed by legislators and is headed to the governor's desk.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniJune 16, 2017Connecticut, State Anti-SLAPP, State Victory

"Pink Slime" Defamation Trial Set to Start in South Dakota

A South Dakota meat producer filed a defamation case against ABC news for its reports on the producer's lean, finely textured beef product.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniMay 30, 2017South Dakota, Defamation

CASP: California Supreme Court Reins in Abuse of Anti-SLAPP Law

PPP Board President Mark Goldowitz recently blogged about a new California Supreme Court decision that reins in abuse of the anti-SLAPP law by government entities.

State Anti-SLAPPEvan MascagniMay 8, 2017Mark Goldowitz, California

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