Suing for retaliation gets harder under law

Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed a bill slapping back at so-called SLAPP suits, like one a Paonia activist says was filed against him by an energy company.

Polis signed House Bill 1324, which was sponsored by state Reps. Lisa Cutter, D-Evergreen, and Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, addressing so-called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.

"These lawsuits are an abuse of our judicial system — to threaten people and instill fear in them," Cutter said in a news release. "We should not be using the court systems against people, especially low-income people, who are simply exercising their right to speak up and this new law ensures that."

Delta County District Court Judge Steven Schultz has ruled twice in favor of Paonia resident Pete Kolbenschlag in a libel case brought by SG Interests. The company sued over comments Kolbenschlag posted on a newspaper website about SG's settlement with the federal government over alleged illegal bidding on oil and gas leases. In his second ruling, awarding attorney fees to Kolbenschlag, Schultz specifically found that the suit was frivolous and filed to retaliate against an industry critic, something SG Interests has denied.

Read more: https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/suing-for-retaliation-gets-harder-under-law/article_81cb5750-868a-11e9-a0ef-20677ce05640.html
(Grand Junction Sentinel)