variants
or less commonly SLAPP
plural SLAPP suits also SLAPPs
law
: a lawsuit alleging defamation that is in reality brought for the purpose of intimidating, burdening, punishing, or harassing the defendant for speaking out against the plaintiff on matters of public interest
SLAPP suits function by forcing the target into the judicial arena where the SLAPP filer foists upon the target the expenses of a defense. The purpose of such gamesmanship ranges from simple retribution for past activism to discouraging future activism.—Gordon v. Marrone, 590 N.Y.S. 2d 649 (1992)
The lawsuit looks, feels, and smells like a SLAPP …, a shameful attempt to cut off discussion on a controversial local issue. Developers, with depressing regularity, file SLAPPs to muzzle their critics.—Editor & Publisher
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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