Defamation – SLAPP Lawsuit
Attorneys Involved | Thomas H. Houlihan, Jr., Timothy R. Scannell
Boyle | Shaughnessy Law attorneys Tim Scannell and Tom Houlihan prevailed on a special motion to dismiss in favor of their client in an action filed in the Bridgeport Superior Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The plaintiff in the case filed an action against our client sounding in Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Slander, and Libel Per Se. It was alleged that our client made false allegations of a sexual assault against the plaintiff. More specifically, the plaintiff claimed that our client intentionally made false statements to the police, which resulted in his arrest and imprisonment, as well as damage to his reputation and ability to gain employment.
Utilizing Connecticut’s recently adopted anti-SLAPP statute, we were able to show that the plaintiff’s complaint fell within the scope of the statute in that our client’s decision to communicate with the police was based upon her right to petition the government on a matter of public concern; i.e. sexual assault. We were further able to prove that, given all valid defenses to the complaint, the plaintiff would not prevail on the merits of the claims against our client. Following a written objection from the plaintiff and oral argument on the motions, the Court ruled in favor of our client and dismissed the claims.