The Tennessee Public Participation Act Almanac[1] In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted “the ‘Tennessee Public Participation Act’” (TPPA),[2] Tennessee’s first meaningful anti-SLAPP statute.[3] The TPPA ushered in a host of critical protections for people who are sued for defamation (libel or slander), false
A trial court’s dismissal—under the Tennessee Public Participation Act—of all claims against Horwitz Law, PLLC client Michael Barrett is affirmed, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled. Mr. Barrett also is entitled to payment of his attorney’s fees on appeal. “Secure Air presents no argument
By Daniel A. Horwitz: Defending Against Abuse of Process Claims In Tennessee* “In Tennessee there are two tort actions which may be brought to obtain redress for the alleged misuse of legal process by another: malicious prosecution and abuse of process.”[1] A separate
A trial court's order denying Horwitz Law, PLLC clients Linda Ward and Caledonia Forest's Tennessee Public Participation Act Petition to Dismiss must be reversed and remanded, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled. The ruling sets multiple important precedents under the Tennessee Public Participation Act,
Three Aldermen who sued their constituents for petitioning them about local issues must pay their constituents' appellate attorney's fees, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled. The appeal arose from a trial court’s January 23, 2024 order dismissing a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” (a
A trial court’s January 23, 2024 order dismissing a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” (a SLAPP-suit) filed by three City of Fayetteville Aldermen against two citizens who petitioned them is now final. Although the Aldermen initially filed a Notice of Appeal after losing in the trial court, whether
Former District 35 Councilman Dave Rosenberg has been awarded $100,000.00 in sanctions after earlier prevailing against a defamation lawsuit filed by failed Tennessee House candidate and former District 35 challenger Michelle Foreman. A copy of the Court's sanctions order—the largest sanction ever awarded
District 35 Councilman Dave Rosenberg has prevailed in full against a $300,000.00 defamation lawsuit filed by failed Tennessee House candidate and former District 35 challenger Michelle Foreman, a judge has ruled. The ruling marks yet another win for defendants targeted by Strategic Lawsuits Against
A trial court's order denying Horwitz Law, PLLC clients Joshua and Leah Debity's Tennessee Public Participation Act Petition to Dismiss must be vacated, the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled. The trial court's "incorporated oral ruling does not indicate why the trial court dismissed
By Daniel A. Horwitz (Republished from the Tennessee Free Speech Blog): In 2019, Tennessee’s free speech law underwent a sea change. The Tennessee Public Participation Act—Tennessee’s first-ever meaningful anti-SLAPP law—took effect, ushering in a host of critical protections for people sued for defamation (libel