Under New York's recently amended anti-SLAPP law, Sureme Court Justice Kevin Bryant granted a motion to dismiss defamation claims brought against two residents of a Fallsburg mobile home park by the park's operator. In addition, the court allowed the two residents to pursue counter-claims.
Christopher Watkins, the residents' lawyer, had this to say about the decision: “This kind of lawsuit is precisely why New York amended its anti-SLAPP law. My clients lived with raw sewage inside their homes for years due to the neglect of the owners and management of Foxcroft Village, and when they spoke out and sought help, they were slapped with a $2 million lawsuit for defamation. The new anti-SLAPP law levels the playing field. This decision should be a warning to other bullies: You can no longer use the courts as a weapon to silence your critics.” A story about the case may be found here: https://midhudsonnews.com/2022/07/06/foxcroft-villages-defamation-claims-dismissed/ On May 26, 2022, a federal jury in White Plains returned a verdict totaling $3,260,000 in favor of two former members of the New York State Police, one a criminal investigator and the other a trooper, who claimed that their highly decorated careers were ended because of unlawful retaliation. The case was tried for plaintiffs .by Christopher Watkins and Michael Sussman. A news article about the case may be found at https://news.yahoo.com/jury-rules-favor-former-state-152852415.html.
News story on verdict is here: https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2020/10/13/sleepy-hollow-officer-hector-rosario-wins-250-000-verdict-discrimination-retaliation-claims/5974207002/
Watkins Law wins police misconduct trial for excessive force against the City of Middletown3/11/2020
News story about the case is here: https://www.recordonline.com/news/20180321/ex-tenant-sues-complex-over-bedbug-spraying
News story about the case is here: https://nypost.com/2018/04/02/nurse-in-wheelchair-sues-suny-for-alleged-expulsion-over-disability/
Christopher D. Watkins selected as 2017 Honoree by the Orange County Human Rights Commission3/29/2017
News story about settlement of case is here: https://www.recordonline.com/news/20171201/newburgh-highway-employees-harassment-lawsuit-settled
News story about the case is here: https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/crime/2016/12/08/ruling-affirms-city-police-used-excessive-force-teen/95144776/
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