Legal Opinion
Burley v. Comets Community Youth Center, Inc.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Decided November 25, 2009No. 08-P-752PublishedCited by 11 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtCohen, J.
The plaintiff appeals from the allowance of the defendant’s special motion to dismiss under G. L. c. 231, § 59H, the “anti-SLAPP” statute.2 Because we conclude that the defendant did not make the requisite threshold showing that the plaintiff’s *819claims are based solely on the defendant’s protected petitioning activity, we reverse.
Background. On July 23, 2003, the plaintiff, James Craig Burley, commenced this defamation action against Comets Community Youth Center, Inc. (Comets). The allegations contained in Burley’s complaint,3 insofar as they pertain to the conduct claimed to be defamatory,…
2Cases cited9 opinions
- Duracraft Corp. v. Holmes Products Corp.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1998
- Office One, Inc. v. LopezMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2002
- Wenger v. AcetoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2008
- North American Expositions Co. v. CorcoranMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2009
- Donovan v. GardnerMassachusetts Appeals Court · 2000
4 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by11 opinions
- Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hospital, Inc.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2017
- Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hospital, Inc.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2019
- Keegan v. PellerinMassachusetts Appeals Court · 2010
- Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hospital, Inc.Massachusetts Appeals Court · 2016
- Clay Corp. v. ColterMassachusetts Superior Court · 2012
6 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.