Show-Me More SLAPP Protection

A bit of encouragement for the local discourse . . . Missouri politicos resoundingly stand behind free speech in this latest power move . . . 

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mike Henderson of Desloge, would broaden Missouri’s limited protections against so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, and create a faster path for judges to dismiss them. It cleared the Senate 31-0 and now heads to the Missouri House.

“These are lawsuits used to punish people with costly litigation to suppress free speech,” Henderson said. “Even if a defendant wins, the financial burden discourages them and others from exercising their free speech.”

Missouri’s current anti-SLAPP law is limited, applying only in a narrow set of cases and offering less protection than laws in many other states. Henderson’s bill would give judges stronger tools to quickly weed out lawsuits aimed at chilling speech on public issues.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri Senate passes bill aimed at meritless lawsuits targeting free speech * Missouri Independent

The Missouri Senate unanimously passed a bill last week aimed at curbing meritless lawsuits filed to chill speech through the threat of a long and expensive legal fight.