Nader v. Me. Democratic Party

Ralph Nader, a candidate in the 2004 election, filed a civil complaint along with four of his presidential electors (collectively, Nader) in 2009 against the Maine Democratic Party and several other entities and individuals involved in the election (collectively, MDP). The complaint alleged that MDP directed the filing of two challenges to Nader's candidacy. MDP filed a special motion to dismiss pursuant to Maine's anti-SLAPP statute, which permits defendants to file a special motion to dismiss civil claims against them that are based on the defendants' exercise of the constitutional right to petition. The superior court granted the motion. The Supreme Court vacated the judgment and remanded for consideration of the special motion to dismiss pursuant to a newly announced standard for applying the anti-SLAPP statute. On remand, the superior court concluded that Nader had satisfied the newly announced standard and denied MDP's special motion to dismiss. The Supreme Court vacated the judgment and remanded with instructions to dismiss the entirety of Nader's complaint against MDP, holding that the motion to dismiss Nader's complaint pursuant to Maine's anti-SLAPP statute should have been granted. View "Nader v. Me. Democratic Party" on Justia Law