This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
Some victories end up symbolic. Time and expense go for naught.
Two types of SLAPPs exist:
(1) Public interest
Some lawsuits follow participation in public discourse. Generally it reflects something of common interest. It may be worker rights, pollution, taking over public lands, or faulty products.
(2) Chilling effect: intimidation
SLAPPs by their nature are chilling. No one wants to be sued. Plaintiffs consider "the likely damage to the public's willingness to participate in public discourse whether the plaintiff's intentions are malicious or pure."
Most SLAPPs reflect other characteristics:
- Defamation: They're based on Anti-Defamation Law grounds
- Economic power imbalances: Pitting ordinary people against deep-pocketed interests assures fights wholly unfair.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).