Saturday, January 23, 2010

SLAPP


SLAPPs were referred to at the public meeting in Honeywood last week.

SLAPP is a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) is a lawsuit that is intended to censor, intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition.

The plaintiff does not normally expect to win the lawsuit. The plaintiff's goals are accomplished if the defendant succumbs to fear, intimidation, mounting legal costs or simple exhaustion and abandons the criticism. A SLAPP may also intimidate others from participating in the debate. A SLAPP is often preceded by a legal threat.

For more details check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLAPP

So, do we think it is just a matter of time before Highlands SLAPPs somebody?
Two schools of thought.

If that happens it would be a huge public relations disaster for the company who's stated intention is to be the benevolent being, our economic guru, the Melancthon messiah, you know our saviour. To SLAPP a local resident wouldn't look good, but then even God rained down locusts and floods on his followers to keep the fear of God in them so to speak, so perhaps Highlands might do it.

On the other hand, if they do SLAPP someone, it might the catalyst the community needs to rise up. If one of their own comes under attack for exercising their right to free speech as guaranteed by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it might be the best thing ever and a HUGE public relations opportunity for those in opposition to this 2,400 acre 200 foot open pit limestone mine.
But then again Highlands has already sent out the precurser to a SLAPP to Melancthon Council, basically threatening legal action from here to kingdom come if Council passes a demolition control bylaw to protect what is left of our farmsteads.
Makes you kind of feel like slapping someone, doesn't it?

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