Proposed Anti-Slapp Suit Legislation Lauded
Proposed legislation by the B.C.
government to protect citizen activists from strategic lawsuits by
corporate opponents is long overdue says associate law professor
Chris Tollefson. Known as SLAPP suits--for Strategic Lawsuits Against
Public Participation--the lawsuits are designed to stifle opposition
to specific projects or developments through lengthy, and often
costly, court procedures. "These are lawsuits simply designed to
punish people," says Tollefson. "In my view these debates are most
appropriately fought out in a democratic forum." He adds that the
proposed legislation would "say very clearly that we value public
participation without intimidation and that we are sending a message
to judges that we want them to take this into account."
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Media contacts
rof. font Tollefson (law) at (250) 721-8170 (office) or(250)