Houston Chronicle editorial: Keep Texas free speech strong. Leave anti-SLAPP laws alone.
FOIFT2025-04-23T08:17:26-05:00By Editorial Board Houston Chronicle Originally published April 23, 2025 A couple, upset that their pet-sitting company left their beloved fish swimming in dirty water, takes to the internet to write a negative review. The company files a $1 million libel suit. A homeowner writes a strongly worded open letter to his homeowners association criticizing how they’ve squandered neighborhood funds. The HOA sues him for slander in retaliation. A media investigation reveals that a respected doctor did not follow protocol in their research. The doctor sues for defamation. These cases are known as SLAPPs, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation.” They discourage the [...]