Search Results for: libel

Happy New Year to the Tennessee Public Participation Act!

First Amendment, Tennessee Public Participation Act

By Daniel A. Horwitz (Republished from the Tennessee Free Speech Blog): In 2019, Tennessee’s free speech law underwent a sea change.  The Tennessee Public Participation Act—Tennessee’s first-ever meaningful anti-SLAPP law—took effect, ushering in a host of critical protections for people sued for defamation (libel or slander), false light invasion of privacy, business disparagement, or other … Continue reading Happy New Year to the Tennessee Public Participation Act! →

The Tennessee Public Participation Act is affirmed—and it’s working.

Defamation, First Amendment, Tennessee Constitutional Law, Tort Law

By Daniel A. Horwitz (Republished from the Tennessee Free Speech Blog): In 2019, Tennessee’s free speech law underwent a sea change.  The Tennessee Public Participation Act—Tennessee’s first-ever meaningful anti-SLAPP law—took effect, ushering in a host of protections for people sued for defamation (libel or slander), false light invasion of privacy, business disparagement, or other speech-based … Continue reading The Tennessee Public Participation Act is affirmed—and it’s working. →

New at the Tennessee Free Speech Blog

First Amendment, Uncategorized

By Daniel Horwitz: As readers of this blog will be aware, its editor has expanded its focus to topics well beyond the Tennessee Supreme Court.  In an effort to focus coverage on free speech issues, the author has also started a separate blog—the Tennessee Free Speech Blog—devoted specifically to free speech cases across Tennessee.  Recent … Continue reading New at the Tennessee Free Speech Blog →

The “Tennessee Public Participation Act”⁠—Tennessee’s First-Ever Meaningful Anti-SLAPP Law⁠—Takes Effect Today

Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Defamation, First Amendment, Tort Law

By Tennessee First Amendment, Speech Defense, and Anti-SLAPP Lawyer Daniel Horwitz: If you woke up this morning feeling freer to speak your mind, there’s a reason: A little-noticed law with huge free speech benefits takes effect today. As of July 1, 2019, the “Tennessee Public Participation Act”—Tennessee’s first-ever meaningful Anti-SLAPP law—became effective and affords those … Continue reading The “Tennessee Public Participation Act”⁠—Tennessee’s First-Ever Meaningful Anti-SLAPP Law⁠—Takes Effect Today →

Individual Rights Are Expanding In Tennessee

Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Defamation, First Amendment, Opinions, ,

By Daniel A. Horwitz The past week has been an excellent one for individual rights in Tennessee, with improvements coming in several independent areas: First, the Tennessee General Assembly has passed the State’s first meaningful anti-SLAPP law to protect Tennesseans’ right to free speech. The reform will instantly have the effect of deterring people from … Continue reading Individual Rights Are Expanding In Tennessee →

Restaurateur Wins Defamation Suit (Again)

Constitutional Law, First Amendment, ,

In a resounding win, celebrated Nashville restaurateur Randy Rayburn has again beaten back a multi-million dollar defamation and false light lawsuit filed against him by Thomas Nathan Loftis, Sr., the former director of Nashville State’s culinary program.  In a unanimous ruling, the Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed the outright dismissal of Mr. Loftis’s claims on the … Continue reading Restaurateur Wins Defamation Suit (Again) →

Tennessee Needs to Provide More Protection to People Sued for Defamation

Constitutional Law, First Amendment, ,

By Daniel A. Horwitz: Yesterday morning, the Nashville Post reported on yet another baseless, multimillion dollar defamation lawsuit filed here in Nashville.  The lawsuit follows a series of other recent defamation actions—including since-dismissed attempts to silence dog lovers, supposed media sources, and others—that have been aimed at stifling legitimate public criticism. It should be emphasized that … Continue reading Tennessee Needs to Provide More Protection to People Sued for Defamation →

Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against Restaurateur Randy Rayburn

Constitutional Law, First Amendment

The defamation lawsuit filed against beloved Nashville restaurateur Randy Rayburn has been dismissed outright by Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Kelvin Jones.  The costs of the lawsuit were also assessed against Plaintiff Tom Loftis, the aggrieved former director of The Randy Rayburn School of Culinary Arts at Nashville State Community College, who had sued Mr. Rayburn … Continue reading Judge Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against Restaurateur Randy Rayburn →