No More Intimidation: Hubig's Plan for Swifter Trials and Higher Fees in SLAPP Lawsuits
Intimidation lawsuits may face increased difficulty due to Hubig's measures
Get ready to think twice before launching frivolous lawsuits meant to silence public voices! Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has proposed a new law to put a stop to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These are underhand legal maneuvers initiated by powerful entities to suppress dissenting opinions in public debates.
According to Hubig, organizations, associations, journalists, and scientists are often overwhelmed with abusive lawsuits, leaving them burdened with defending themselves and their finances instead of focusing on their work. SILENCED! That's her main concern.
SLAPP lawsuits, as understood by lawyers, are baseless legal claims usually filed by corporations, governments, or influential figures. Their aim is to stifle unwanted contributions to the formation of public opinion, often referred to as SLAPP attacks.
The German government's new law aims to protect freedom of speech and the press by introducing barriers to these abusive lawsuits. Specifically, the courts will be allowed to impose higher fees on those filing SLAPP lawsuits if they are deemed abusive.
Moreover, the proposed law requires that such proceedings should be resolved more swiftly, and defendants should be reimbursed for their costs of defense in a greater proportion. Court proceedings should not be a tool for intimidating people who are active in the public sphere, says Hubig.
So there you have it! Under the new law, filing SLAPP lawsuits will get expensive, and litigation will have to proceed quickly. Hubig's goal is to ensure that the justice system is not abused to harass or censor those who engage in public life.
The new law is in line with broader European efforts to defend activists, whistleblowers, and civil society actors from corporate and powerful interests using litigation as weapons. The law is expected to closely follow the provisions outlined in the European Union's Anti-SLAPP Directive.
- Stefanie Hubig
- Federal Ministry of Justice
- Lawsuits
- Public Participation
- SLAPP Lawsuits
- Stefanie Hubig's proposed law, aiming to protect public participation, intends to impose higher fees on frivolous SLAPP lawsuits and expedite court proceedings to deter abusive legal maneuvers intended to stifle public opinion.
- In line with European efforts, the new law initiated by the Federal Ministry of Justice under Stefanie Hubig aims to safeguard freedom of speech and the press by establishing barriers against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are frequently employed as weapons by corporations, governments, or influential figures to suppress dissent in public debates.
