The anti-SLAPP legislation, more formally known as section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act in Ontario and the Protection of Public Participation Act in British Columbia, is arguably the most influential development in Canadian defamation law in the last fifty years, aside from the advent of the internet.
It appears simple in theory. It is not simple in practice.
It was intended to be straightforward, swift, and inexpensive. It has become protracted, complex, and costly.
Written primarily for judges and lawyers in Ontario and British Columbia who are faced with anti-SLAPP proceedings, this text presents a detailed and comprehensive analysis of anti-SLAPP legislation and proceedings.
“Our landscape in libel has been turned upside down by SLAPP motions. As counsel, you’re going to face one of these motions in a libel action if it involves a public issue. This text is invaluable. If you are plunged into the swamp this is your rope out. It covers every possible issue. A bible for the plaintiff or defendant. It is a text of accuracy and comfort for the barrister.”
—Julian Porter, QC
“David Potts & Erin Stoik’s Guide to the Law and Practice of Anti-SLAPP Proceedings is an essential tool for any lawyer or judge involved in an anti-SLAPP motion. The guide impressively also provides a comprehensive summary of the substantive law of defamation as it might arise in these kinds of motions. In many cases the guide will be a one-stop resource for counsel. Given the complexity of the law on these motions, the guide will also be a valuable resource to judges to assist them in applying the proper legal principles and tests in rendering their decisions.”
—Howard Winkler
Winkler Law: Media & Defamation Lawyers
“Defamation law experts David Potts and Erin Stoik have done our profession a great service by writing the comprehensive text Guide to the Law and Practice of Anti-SLAPP Proceedings. The recently proclaimed anti-SLAPP legislation in the Ontario Court of Justice and the British Columbia Protection of Public Participation Act are the most notable developments in defamation law in the past twenty years. Their text is extremely instructive and practical. It is the seminal legal guide for Canadian lawyers and judges who grapple with anti-SLAPP issues. Both David and Erin should be congratulated for demystifying this complex area of the law. This area of the law can be easily assimilated by accessing their text. Quite simply, the Guide to the Law and Practice of Anti-SLAPP Proceedings is a must read for all civil lawyers and courts.”
—The Honourable Todd L. Archibald
Retired Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Editor of Advocates Quarterly and Annual Review of Civil Litigation; co-author of Ontario Superior Court Practice: Annotated Rules & Legislation, Profiting from Risk Management and Corporate Compliance, and The Trial Book
“Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation are not a new phenomenon but, it seems, they are becoming increasingly prevalent. Evidence from governments, journalists, NGOs, and academics, amongst others, suggests that SLAPP litigation is being deployed by wealthy and influential individuals, and by large and powerful organisations, to shut down critical and potentially vitally important public interest speech, not just in Canada, but around the world. However, part of the problem with effectively dealing with (and stopping) SLAPP litigation that is taxing governments, lawyers, and academics is identifying and understanding it. In turn, understanding SLAPPs helps to ensure that legitimate and meritorious claims in, for example, defamation, proceed, and that these claimants are not unfairly categorised as SLAPP litigants. This comprehensive, rigorously researched, and accessible book will help any reader to achieve this understanding. It is, in my view, an indispensable guide for lawyers involved in SLAPP litigation, that I think will also serve as a reference point for lawyers, policy makers, and academics in other jurisdictions who are seeking guidance on how to approach SLAPPs.”
—Dr Peter Coe
Lecturer in Law | Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and Information Law and Policy Centre, University of London | Editor-in-Chief, Communications Law | Associate Academic Member, East Anglian Chambers | Advisor, Online Harms and Cyber Crime Research Unit, University of East London | Independent member of the Council of Europe’s Expert Committee on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
“This book by David Potts and Erin Stoik is an invaluable guide to the evolving law of defamation and anti-SLAPP litigation. These two superb experts have composed a comprehensive and insightful summary of defamation law in Canada, the impact of the Internet and the global nature of modern defamation practice, and the impact of anti-SLAPP legislation. The book is both a thorough treatise clearly explaining all relevant legal doctrines and principles, and a highly insightful practical lawyering guide to navigating strategy and tactics in this complex and evolving legal arena.”
—Rodney Smolla is President of the Vermont Law and Graduate School. He was previously President of Furman University, and Dean of the Delaware, Washington & Lee, and Richmond law schools. He is a well-known constitutional and media law scholar and litigator, who has argued in state and federal courts across the United States, including the United States Supreme Court, where he argued Virginia v. Black, dealing with the First Amendment standards applicable to hate speech and threats. He is the author of five legal treatises, including Law of Defamation, Smolla and Nimmer on Freedom of Speech, Federal Civil Rights Acts, Law of Lawyer Advertising, and Rights and Liabilities Right in Media Content Internet, Broadcast, and Print. He is also the author of many trade and university press books. His most recent book is Confessions of a Free Speech Lawyer: Charlottesville and the Politics of Hate (2020).
