Bill > S919

This bill aims to protect free speech through the anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It amends Section 59H of Chapter 231 of the General Laws to expand the purpose of the anti-SLAPP law, which is to ensure full participation by citizens and organizations in the robust discussion of issues in furtherance of the right of petition, and of the rights of freedom of speech and expression in connection with any matter of public concern. 2. It establishes a special motion to dismiss procedure, where a party can seek to have a civil claim, counterclaim, or cross-claim dismissed if it is based on the party's exercise of its right of petition or rights of freedom of speech or expression on a matter of public concern. 3. It provides that the court shall grant the special motion to dismiss unless the opposing party can show that the moving party's exercise of its rights was devoid of any reasonable factual support or arguable basis in law, and that it caused actual injury to the responding party. 4. It allows the Attorney General to intervene to defend or support the moving party on the special motion. 5. It stays discovery proceedings upon the filing of the special motion to dismiss, with limited exceptions. 6. It provides for an award of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the moving party if the special motion is granted, and allows for an interlocutory appeal if the special motion is denied. The overall purpose of the bill is to protect and encourage robust public discourse on matters of public concern by making it easier to quickly dismiss lawsuits that are primarily intended to chill the exercise of First Amendment rights.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S919