North American Expositions Co. Ltd. Partnership v. Corcoran

At issue is whether the defendants engaged in petitioning activity within the meaning of G. L. c. 231, § 59H (the “anti-SLAPP”3 statute), when their representative made certain statements on two occasions to members of a statutorily created charitable foundation. The plaintiffs filed a multiple count complaint against the defendants arising out of this challenged activity, which the plaintiffs claim unlawfully interfered with ongoing business dealings between the plaintiffs and the foundation. The defendants then filed a special motion to dismiss under the anti-SLAPP statute, which a judge in…