Fighting for a Victim’s Right to Report Crime

Each of us has a constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances; key to this right is the right to report crime to law enforcement if a victim chooses.  Sadly, all too often victims face lawsuits when they report a crime.  These lawsuits are known as SLAPPs - strategic litigation against public participation. In November NCVLI once again participated as amicus to fight one of these SLAPPs.  In this case a victim of intimate partner violence reported her victimization to police and her partner was arrested.  Subsequently, friends and colleagues posted online the facts of the arrest.  The ex-partner sued the victim alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional interference with economic relations.  Fortunately, the victim has an excellent lawyer who is fighting for her and NCVLI joined as amicus to ensure that victims do not fear being sued for reporting crime and exercising their First Amendment Rights!