SLAPP-suit protection eyed: Would give shield from being sued for speaking at meetings

In Henrico, the $5 million lawsuit against neighbors who opposed a rezoning at a county Board of Supervisors meeting alleges that they falsely represented having a petition bearing the signatures of more than 100 Varina residents, which prompted a denial of the request. The residents maintain they d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMcClatchy - Tribune Business News p. 1
Main Author Julian Walker and Olympia Meola
Format Newsletter
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Tribune Content Agency LLC 30.01.2007
Subjects
Legal fees
Litigation
Public hearings
State court decisions
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Summary:In Henrico, the $5 million lawsuit against neighbors who opposed a rezoning at a county Board of Supervisors meeting alleges that they falsely represented having a petition bearing the signatures of more than 100 Varina residents, which prompted a denial of the request. The residents maintain they did nothing wrong. Henrico resident Jane Koontz said the goal of SLAPP suits is "intimidating citizens and muzzling our First Amendment rights; in effect shutting us up." "The largest percentage of these SLAPP suits are related to development and environmental issues," he continued, noting that 24 states have anti-SLAPP laws.