Julie Hersh v. John Tatum and Mary Ann Tatum

Chief Justice. Hecht

delivered the opinion of the Court,

in which Justice Green, Justice Johnson, Justice Willett, Justice Guzman, Justice Lehrmann, Justice Devine, and Justice Brown joined.

The Texas Citizens Participation Act (“the Act”)1 provides a procedure' for expeditiously' dismissing a non-meritorious legal action that “is based on, relates to, or is in response to the party’s exercise of .. the right of free speech”,2 defined as “a communication made in connection with a matter of public concern;”3 May a defendant obtain dismissal of a suit alleging such a communication if she denies…