What's one big reason Utah is seeing more libel lawsuits? The #MeToo movement.

The number of defamation lawsuits filed in Utah is on the rise — doubling in the last year.

A review of these cases shows that almost all have one thing in common: The speech that someone claims is salacious, untrue or harmful was posted on social media.

Whether it was a one-star review for a bed-and-breakfast posted online by a scorned neighbor to lawsuits over Facebook posts made by begrudged tenants complaining about potholes in their mobile home community, Utahns are increasingly going to court over online speech.

But one University of Utah law professor says there’s also been a unique social media phenomenon that has had a profound impact on defamation lawsuits: the #MeToo movement.

Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/03/24/whats-one-big-reason-utah/