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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Hoffman v. Davenport-Metcalf, 851 A.2d 1083 (2004)

Citation
Hoffman v. Davenport-Metcalf, 851 A.2d 1083 (2004)
Parent Document
Hoffman v. Davenport-Metcalf, 851 A.2d 1083 (2004)
Jurisdiction
Rhode Island (state)
Effective Date
2004-06-21

Other Sections in This Document (104)

Full Text

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Finally, we address the motion justice's ruling that plaintiffs' claims are barred by the anti-SLAPP statute. We affirm the motion justice's grant of summary judgment, but we conclude that the anti-SLAPP statute need not have been invoked in this case. The underlying defamation and eviction actions, as well as the criminal complaints defendants brought, are not "issues of public concern" that the statute was enacted to protect. Chapter 33 of title 9 was enacted to protect citizens, "who have participated in matters of public concern" and are the subject of lawsuits *1092 "brought primarily to chill the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances." Section 9-33-1. The Legislature enacted this protection to ensure "full participation by persons and organizations and robust discussion of issues of public concern before the legislative, judicial, and administrative bodies." Id. (Emphasis added.)