You may have read in the Riverdale Press, or in our blog here that FIPNA was threatened by an architect associated with Jackson Development Group with a lawsuit.
Then we got a note from the Public Participation Project — see below.
—–Original Message—–
From: Peter Kurdock To: fipna@fipna.org
Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 12:03 pm
Subject: Federal Anti-SLAPP Legislation
Dear Ms. Hart:
I am the Legislative Director of the Public Participation Project. We advocate for legislation that would protect citizens from lawsuits such as the suit threatened by Jackson Development architect Hugo Subotovsky. These types of lawsuits are known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation or SLAPPs. As you are well aware, SLAPPs are used to silence and harass citizens who speak out on matters of public concern and before public proceedings. SLAPP filers don’t go to court to seek justice, but, instead, to intimidate those who disagree with them or their activities.
In the last session of Congress, federal anti-SLAPP legislation, HR 4364, the Citizen Participation Act of 2009, was introduced by Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9). We anticipate that revised federal anti-SLAPP legislation will be reintroduced shortly in the House and introduced in the Senate, with bipartisan support in both chambers. A summary of the proposed legislation to be introduced is attached.
Attached please also find an article in the New York Times covering the SLAPP filed against a member of our organization, an article from the Wall Street Journal Legal Blog supporting the bill, and an editorial in USA Today endorsing the bill. Additional information regarding the bill and our organization is at our website: www.anti-slapp.org
Our organization is also working to enlarge our coalition, which currently has more than 80 organizations and businesses, and more than 40 prominent individuals. We would be honored to have the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association’s endorsement of federal anti-SLAPP legislation.
If FIPNA would like to endorse this bill or if you would like any additional information regarding the bill or our organization, please contact me. Thank you for your time.
—
Peter Kurdock
Legislative Director
Public Participation Project
1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 664-3796
pkurdock@anti-slapp.org
www.anti-slapp.org
Recent Comments