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H.B. 112

             1     

PREVENTION OF RETALIATORY LAWSUITS

             2     
2001 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Rebecca D. Lockhart

             5      This act modifies the Judicial Code by creating the Citizen Participation in Government Act.
             6      The act creates a summary procedure for the courts to use to determine whether a suit is a
             7      retaliatory lawsuit for participation by the defendant in the government process. The act
             8      also allows for "slappback" suits and specifies damages.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      ENACTS:
             11          78-58-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             12          78-58-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             13          78-58-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             14          78-58-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             15          78-58-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             16      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             17          Section 1. Section 78-58-101 is enacted to read:
             18     
CHAPTER 58. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT ACT

             19          78-58-101. Title.
             20          This chapter is known as the "Citizen Participation in Government Act."
             21          Section 2. Section 78-58-102 is enacted to read:
             22          78-58-102. Definitions.
             23          As used in this chapter:
             24          (1) "Action involving public participation in the process of government" means any
             25      lawsuit, cause of action, claim, cross-claim, counterclaim, or other judicial pleading or filing
             26      requesting relief to which this act applies.
             27          (2) "Government" includes a branch, department, agency, instrumentality, official,


             28      employee, agent, or other person acting under color of law of the United States, a state, or
             29      subdivision of a state or other public authority.
             30          (3) "Moving party" means any person on whose behalf the motion is filed.
             31          (4) "Person" means the same as defined in Section 68-3-12 .
             32          (5) "Process of government" means the mechanisms and procedures by which the
             33      legislative and executive branches of government make decisions, and the activities leading up to
             34      the decisions, including the exercise by a citizen of the right to influence those decisions under the
             35      First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
             36          (6) "Responding party" means any person against whom the motion described in Section
             37      78-58-103 is filed.
             38          (7) "State" means the same as defined in Section 68-3-12 .
             39          Section 3. Section 78-58-103 is enacted to read:
             40          78-58-103. Applicability.
             41          (1) A defendant in an action who believes that the action is primarily based on, relates to,
             42      or is in response to an act of the defendant while participating in the process of government, may
             43      file:
             44          (a) a verified answer detailing his belief that the action is designed to prevent, interfere
             45      with, or chill public participation in the process of government, and specifying in detail the conduct
             46      asserted to be the participation in the process of government believed to give rise to the complaint;
             47      and
             48          (b) a motion for judgment on the pleadings in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil
             49      Procedure Rule 12(c).
             50          (2) Affidavits detailing activity not adequately detailed in the answer may be filed with the
             51      motion.
             52          Section 4. Section 78-58-104 is enacted to read:
             53          78-58-104. Procedures.
             54          (1) On the filing of a motion for judgment on the pleadings:
             55          (a) all discovery shall be stayed pending resolution of the motion unless the court orders
             56      otherwise;
             57          (b) the trial court shall hear and determine the motion as expeditiously as possible; and
             58          (c) the moving party shall have a right of interlocutory appeal from a trial court order


             59      denying the motion or from a trial court failure to rule on the motion in expedited fashion.
             60          (2) The court shall grant the motion and dismiss the action upon a finding that the primary
             61      purpose of the action is to prevent, interfere with, or chill the moving party's proper participation
             62      in the process of government.
             63          (3) Any government body to which the moving party's acts were directed or the attorney
             64      general may intervene to defend or otherwise support the moving party.
             65          Section 5. Section 78-58-105 is enacted to read:
             66          78-58-105. Counter actions -- Attorney's fees -- Damages.
             67          (1) A defendant in an action involving public participation in the process of government
             68      may maintain an action, claim, cross-claim, or counterclaim to recover:
             69          (a) costs and attorney's fees, upon a demonstration that the action involving public
             70      participation in the process of government was commenced or continued without a substantial
             71      basis in fact and law and could not be supported by a substantial argument for the extension,
             72      modification, or reversal of existing law; and
             73          (b) other compensatory damages, including treble actual damages, upon an additional
             74      demonstration that the action involving public participation in the process of government was
             75      commenced or continued for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, punishing, or otherwise
             76      maliciously inhibiting the free exercise of rights granted under the First Amendment to the U.S.
             77      Constitution.
             78          (2) Nothing in this section shall affect or preclude the right of any party to any recovery
             79      otherwise authorized by any other statute.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-19-01 10:07 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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