“The Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill then. They oppose this modest change now.”
I was speaking on the House floor, in response to another delegate’s point that the Chamber opposed the SLAPP bill I was defending.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation are brought to intimidate opponents, usually an individual or a neighborhood association, not to win in court.
I sponsored the SLAPP bill when we passed it six years ago. I drafted the amendments to it this week.
Four years ago, I introduced legislation that would authorize a court to act before fraud or voter suppression stains the electoral process. The court can intervene if there are reasonable grounds to believe someone is about to violate the law.
For the first time, this legislation will be debated on the Senate floor. By a 6-5 margin, a Senate committee gave it a favorable report last night.
Today, I spoke to one of the Democrats on that panel. I was amazed to learn that he had voted against my bill because he feared that it would be used to harass groups doing voter registration.
I told him the bill is modeled on a provision in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. He assured me he’d switch his vote.
Showing posts with label SLAPP suits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SLAPP suits. Show all posts
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 17 – SLAPPs and Slots
“That’s my bill!” I said to myself early this morning.
An article in the Sun referred to a state statute that "prohibits meritless suits brought by large private interests, often real estate developers, to deter ordinary citizens from exercising their political or legal rights."
That quote is from Alan Rifkin, the lawyer for opponents of a casino at Arundel Mills.
He’s referring to my legislation designed to short circuit SLAPP suits – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
Typically, SLAPPs are frivolous lawsuits brought by a well-heeled business to intimidate an individual or community association that’s fighting a proposed development but lacks the money to defend itself in court.
Goliath vs. David.
In this instance, the alleged SLAPP is the suit filed by the Cordish Cos., asserting fraudulent acts in the referendum petition drive opposing a slots facility at Arundel Mills.
Just as the 1st Amendment equally protects Glenn Beck and George Soros, the SLAPP law protects a tiny neighborhood group and Magna Entertainment Corp.
An article in the Sun referred to a state statute that "prohibits meritless suits brought by large private interests, often real estate developers, to deter ordinary citizens from exercising their political or legal rights."
That quote is from Alan Rifkin, the lawyer for opponents of a casino at Arundel Mills.
He’s referring to my legislation designed to short circuit SLAPP suits – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
Typically, SLAPPs are frivolous lawsuits brought by a well-heeled business to intimidate an individual or community association that’s fighting a proposed development but lacks the money to defend itself in court.
Goliath vs. David.
In this instance, the alleged SLAPP is the suit filed by the Cordish Cos., asserting fraudulent acts in the referendum petition drive opposing a slots facility at Arundel Mills.
Just as the 1st Amendment equally protects Glenn Beck and George Soros, the SLAPP law protects a tiny neighborhood group and Magna Entertainment Corp.
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