SLAPP Lawsuits: One Type Of Litigation That The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Can Live With

Pete Mackey

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 675

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Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation are lawsuits filed by overdogs against underdogs. The plaintiff in a SLAPP lawsuit is not trying to win, but only to spend the underdog dry. These lawsuits are seen as a threat to First Amendment rights and about half of the states have passed legislation against such abusive suits.

Should we rein in lawyers who file SLAPP lawsuits on behalf of big business merely to discourage individuals from pursuing their rights? Are such lawsuits “frivolous?” Of course they are. But do not bother asking the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to answer that question, they don't know what SLAPP means.

The Chamber also ignores the issue of their member companies raising frivolous defenses in legitimate lawsuits. While they advocate tort reform and reining in the rights of individual litigants at every turn, you will never hear the Chamber criticize one of their own.