Partner Laura Prather authored an article in San Antonio Express News discussing the a new Texas Senate bill that would impede free speech. Read an excerpt of the article below:
If you are tweeting about a controversial issue, publishing an investigative news report or writing an online review of a local business, you could face a defamation lawsuit aimed at silencing your speech.
That lawsuit may be meritless. You are presenting truthful information or expressing your opinion without defaming anyone, but you will have to defend against the lawsuit anyway. That costs lots of money.
A SLAPP lawsuit, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” is meant to intimidate a speaker into being quiet or removing their comments, or to punish someone for speaking out. Fortunately, lawmakers passed the Texas Citizens Participation Act in 2011 to remedy this problem and protect free speech. Texas is one of 34 states with an anti-SLAPP statute, and ours is considered among the strongest in the nation.
To read the full article on San Antonio Express News, click here (subscription required).
