Josh Lewin Presented at the Massachusetts Bar Association Program “Is The Massachusetts Anti-SLAPP Statute Working As Intended?”

May 23, 2023 – Boston

Lawyers and courts in the commonwealth continue to struggle with applying the framework for the state’s Anti-SLAPP statute as the Legislature intended. The first quarter of 2023 brought several orders from the Superior Court and at least two opinions from the Appeals Court on applying the standard for dismissal under the commonwealth’s anti-SLAPP statute. The Supreme Judicial Court has decided to hear arguments on the issue in Columbia Plaza Associates v. Northeastern University. Josh Lewin joined a panel of attorneys at the Massachusetts Bar Association on May 23 to address:

• How to identify and analyze viable special motions to dismiss in the context of the current burden-shifting anti-SLAPP framework
• Whether, and under what circumstances, abuse of process claims may still be brought in light of the statute

The event also featured Associate Justice of the Superior Court Debra Squires-Lee who provided a helpful perspective from the bench on anti-SLAPP special motions to dismiss.

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