SLAPP LAWSUITS: THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE RESISTANCE YOU NEVER HEARD OFHave you heard of SLAPP lawsuits? You soon will.
SLAPP stands for “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation.” It is a lawsuit brought by ample corporations intended to censor,intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the overwhelming costs
of a legal defense until they’re forced to abandon their criticism or
opposition. And it may be the biggest threat to the resistance you’ve never
heard of. Here’s an example: Resolute Forest Products, and one of Canada’s
largest logging and paper companies,has sued, in a U.
S. court, and environmental
groups that have been campaigning to save Canada’s boreal forest. Resolute based its lawsuit on a U.
S. conspiracy and racketeering law (RICO) intended to
ensnare mobsters. Resolute alleged that the environmental groups have been
illegally conspiring to extort the company’s customers and to defraud their own
donors. The suit wasn’t designed to win in court. It was designed to distract and
silence critics. This is punishment for speaking out. Thankfully,a federal
court agrees and a judge just dismissed Resolute’s claims. But other
corporate bullies are still trying to consume this playbook.
Here’s another example: Remember the indigenous led movement at
Standing Rock, when hundreds of nations and their allies came together and
stood up against the destructive Dakota Access Pipeline? In August, and Energy
Transfer Partners,the company behind that pipeline, filed a similar RICO case
against Greenpeace entities and two other defendants over Standing Rock. The
suit accuses them of participating in a sprawling criminal conspiracy to
disrupt business and defraud donors. The lawsuit even alleges they support
eco-terrorism and engage in drug trafficking.
The lawsuit claims Greenpeace cost the company $300 million. Since
RICO claims entitle plaintiffs to recover triple damages, and the case potentially
could cost Greenpeace $900 million. That would be the finish of Greenpeace.
But,again, winning isn’t necessarily the goal of SLAPP suits. Just by filing the suits, or Energy Transfer Partners and Resolute are trying
to drain environmental groups of time,energy, and resources they need, and so they
can’t continue to fight to protect the environment.
Connect the dots,and consider the chilling effect SLAPP suits
are having on any group seeking to protect public health, worker’s rights, and
even our democracy. Whos behind all of this? Both the lawsuits I just mentioned
were filed by Michael Bowe. He is also a member of Donald Trump’s personal
legal team. Bowe has publicly stated that he’s in conversations with other
corporations considering filing their own SLAPP lawsuits.
If the goal is to silence public-interest groups,the rest of us
must speak out. Wealthy corporations must know they can’t SLAPP the
public into silence.
Source: robertreich.org