By Daniel A. Horwitz: Strategic lawsuits against public participation—better known as “SLAPP-suits”—use the legal system to punish constitutionally protected speech.[1] The Tennessee Supreme Court has explained that “[t]he primary aim of a SLAPP is not to prevail on the merits, but rather to chill
“[A]ll enforcement of the recruitment provision” of Tennessee’s so-called “Abortion Trafficking” statute is now preliminarily enjoined, U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger has ordered. The decision comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by Horwitz Law, PLLC clients Rachel Welty and Tennessee State
Beginning in January 2024, the City of Lakeland, Tennessee began fining Horwitz Law, PLLC client Julie Pereira for her political yard sign reading: "Fuck 'Em Both 2024." In response, Ms. Pereira filed suit, asserting that the City of Lakeland's enforcement action violated her First
A “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” (a SLAPP-suit) filed by three City of Fayetteville, Tennessee, Aldermen against two citizens who petitioned them must be dismissed with prejudice, the Circuit Court for Lincoln County, Tennessee, has ruled. The Court also awarded the two citizens “their court
Horwitz Law, PLLC client Sophia Johnston—a devout Muslim woman who was illegally required to remove and be photographed without wearing her hijab after being arrested for a minor (since-dismissed) criminal charge in August 2023—has reached a settlement with Rutherford County, Tennessee. As part of her
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
Two TBI agents and District Attorney W. Ray Crouch have paid $125,000.00 to Joshua Garton to settle his claims for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and violations of his First Amendment rights. The settlement payment comes almost three years after Tennessee’s top law enforcement agency
Two TBI agents and District Attorney W. Ray Crouch have paid $125,000.00 to Joshua Garton to settle his claims for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and violations of his First Amendment rights. The settlement payment comes almost three years after Tennessee’s top law enforcement agency
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
In a pair of separate opinions issued today, the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling by Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle in favor of Plaintiffs Amy Frogge, Fran Bush, and Jill Speering, all represented by Horwitz Law, PLLC. The ruling arose out of a lawsuit