AboutMichael Troy Expertise I will answer general questions regarding freedom of speech, petition, or religion. I specialize in cases involving public employment or education, as well as issues related to campaign finance. But I can`t give specific legal advice involving specific cases you might have.
Experience As an attorney for the Center for Individual Rights, I worked on a number of free speech cases, including Rosenberger v. Univ. of Virginia, in which the Supreme Court upheld my clients' right to run a student newspaper without discrimination because of its religious conent. I also worked on White v. Julian, which protected the right of people to protest against a homeless shelter in their neighborhood.
I also worked for the Federal Election Commission on several cases regarding the right to participate in the election process.
Organizations Former Attorney for Center for Individual Rights.
Publications Washington Post
Washington Times
Education/Credentials J.D. from Univ. of Michigan Law School
Question I was curious what SLAPP suits are exactly. I understand the general idea, but in a state where there is an anti-SLAPP act are companies ever able to sue? What are some reasons why people may be opposed to the anti-SLAPP act?
Answer Hi Jon,
The term "SLAPP" is an acronym that stands for "strategic lawsuits against public participation."
The idea behind preventing these suits is that institutions sometimes try to silence protesters by bringing frivolous lawsuits. The institution knows it will lose the lawsuit if it goes to a final decision, but it hopes that the other party will give up because of the cost of taking the matter to court, or out of some fear of losing.
Anti-SLAPP statutes allow a court to dismiss such actions quickly, and often bring sanction against the institution that brought the suit. Institutions can still bring lawsuits. They simply have to be viable claims brought with the intention of winning at trial, not abusing the process to silence people.
Some people oppose anti-SLAPP suits because sometimes the law is abused to keep institutions from bringing valid suit. When this happens, it limits one's First Amendment rights to petition government for a redress of grievances.
