Johnson v. Ryan

¶1

Lawrence-Berrey, J.

James Ryan engaged in vitriolic Internet blogging against Yvonne Johnson. Johnson sued Ryan for defamation and tortious interference with a business expectancy. Ryan defended the suit, in part, by asserting the anti-SLAPP statute.1 As permitted by that statute, Ryan filed a prediscovery motion to strike. He argued that Johnson’s claims should be dismissed because *566his speech was protected speech in that his attacks against Johnson were matters of public concern. The trial court agreed and dismissed Johnson’s claims. We hold that Ryan’s blogging was primarily for personal…