AUPHR
Tom Nelson
Jen Nessel, CCR, (212) 614-6449, press@ccrjustice.org
Jayne Kaszynski, Olympia Food Co-op, 360-357-1106 x11, publicrelations@olympiafood.coop
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Filed Over Boycott of Israeli Goods
Court Finds Suit Is Effort to Chill Boycotters’ Public Statements On Issue of Public Concern
February 27, 2012, Olympia, WA and New York, NY – Today, in a lawsuit brought against current and former members of the Olympia Food Co-op board of directors for their decision to boycott Israeli goods, a Washington State court dismissed the case, calling it a SLAPP – Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation – and said that it would award the defendants attorneys’ fees, costs, and sanctions. The judge also upheld the constitutionality of Washington’s anti-SLAPP law, which the plaintiffs had challenged.
In a court hearing last Thursday, lawyers from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP argued that the court should grant the defendants’ Special Motion to Strike and dismiss the case because it targeted the constitutional rights of free speech and petition in connection with an issue of public concern.
“We are pleased the Court found this case to be what it is – an attempt to chill free speech on a matter of public concern. This sends a message to those trying to silence support of Palestinian human rights to think twice before they bring a lawsuit,” said Maria LaHood, a senior staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights.
On Thursday, the courtroom was filled with interested observers, and boycott supporters held a rally outside the courthouse. Today, the courtroom was filled to overflowing and many co-op supporters spilled into the hallway.
Tom Nelson
Jen Nessel, CCR, (212) 614-6449, press@ccrjustice.org
Jayne Kaszynski, Olympia Food Co-op, 360-357-1106 x11, publicrelations@olympiafood.coop
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Filed Over Boycott of Israeli Goods
Court Finds Suit Is Effort to Chill Boycotters’ Public Statements On Issue of Public Concern
In a court hearing last Thursday, lawyers from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP argued that the court should grant the defendants’ Special Motion to Strike and dismiss the case because it targeted the constitutional rights of free speech and petition in connection with an issue of public concern.
“We are pleased the Court found this case to be what it is – an attempt to chill free speech on a matter of public concern. This sends a message to those trying to silence support of Palestinian human rights to think twice before they bring a lawsuit,” said Maria LaHood, a senior staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights.
On Thursday, the courtroom was filled with interested observers, and boycott supporters held a rally outside the courthouse. Today, the courtroom was filled to overflowing and many co-op supporters spilled into the hallway.
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