Customer Reviews

SLAPPs: Getting Sued for Speaking Out

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book should be read by every legislator and judge in the country. It shows vividly how powerful interests can stifle free speech. As a plaintiff's attorney who handled one of the landmark cases mentioned in the book, I can tell you even a successful SLAPP-back lawsuit with a jury verdict for millions, coming many years later, is not enough to protect our liberties. Fortunately, the authors aided the effort in California to get an Anti-SLAPP law passed so judges can throw out free speech threats quickly. Then, you can sue!

John M. Poswall
attorney and author of the novels:"The Lawyers" and "The Altar Boys"

I am involved in a SLAPPs situation in Oklahoma and my sister in Colorado recommended this book. This book is not sold in Oklahoma but it should be.
This book is 10 years worth of experience of dealing with suits Big Corporations, Developers, etc. file against concerned citizens when the citizens
speak out, exercising their constitutional rights. It is a how-to book for citizens, attorneys, and judges to defend the constitutional rights
of ordinary citizens. The book is practical, it is philosophical, and it is accurate. It is easy to read and very clear and logical as well.

It should be the handbook of every neighborhood organization across the United States, as well as every citizen's group that might have to question
the powers that be in their local governments in order to facilite changes for the better in their neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, etc.

I was one of the law students working with Prof's Pring and Canan in their research of SLAPPs. I spoke with a number of "average Joe's" from around the country, as well as with their attorneys. What cannot be emphasized more strongly is the outright fear expressed by the victims of these SLAPP suits, who refuse to sign another petition, go to another public meeting, send another letter to their government representative, etc. This is the fundamental suppression of their free speech and petitioning rights as residents and citizens of the United States, which this book documents both historically and practically. Never forget that knowledge is power. As a result of my work on this project, I have been able to document new SLAPP cases, which had not raised SLAPP defenses, communicate with their attorneys, and help them summarily deal with these "chilling" lawsuits. These SLAPP lawsuits continue, and only by empowering ourselves with resources such as this book can we fight to protect our rights.