In this case, the bully is the California Independent Petroleum Assn., which lobbies for oil drilling firms around the state. The legal battle ended in defeat for CIPA and a court ordering the organization to pay its targets’ legal bills. That’s because SLAPP suits have been brought not only against environmental groups and other activists but also businesses and public officials. CIPA then sued the organizations and the city, alleging they had reached a “secret” deal while shutting the oil industry out of settlement negotiations. Judge Mackey was explicit, however, about why the city and environmental groups deserved so much.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 16, 2021 21:22 UTC