Gross said that she was also anxious about a section of the bill that require the defendants who lose in court to pay “reasonable costs and law fees” for the prosecutors, in addition to any other penalties, which would encourage more people to prosecute the media. The relevant main section would undermine the laws that aim to prevent reprisal or trivial lawsuits designed to silence critics-the so-called SLAPP control (strategic claims against public participation)-by allowing government figures or other powerful prosecutors to restore their fees for the lawyer who must escape their laws.
“It makes it until public officials and their strong allies enjoy greater incentives to submit trivial defamation claims because they will be able to pay lawyers.”
Andradi insisted that he was trying to struggle for less powerful people with his bill. The most prominent case Nicholas SandmanThe Covengton Catholic Secondary School, involved in a confrontation with the original American demonstrators, demanded steps to Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, in 2019. A lawsuit against other outlets In the Federal Court last year.
“At the present time, the only people who can make defamation claims against anyone are the wealthy and the powerful. No one else can bear,” Andradi said. “How can a person now make an average income that saves $ 100,000 to pay a lawyer to file this lawsuit?”
But critics who spoke with Buzzfeed News said they believed that the draft law will eventually work to take advantage of strong public figures, who, as Petersen in FCGA, have noticed more vulnerable to media reports.
“I don’t see where in this law, they get anywhere that protects the little man,” said Petersen. “I don’t see it.”
Block with FAF indicated that “Facebook citizens” will also be affected because the bill is widely covered any “online words”, such as a social media post or online review, as well as “any presentation of the public”, such as a citizen who may speak at a general meeting.
“The only ones who can see who benefits from the wealthy and powerful,” Block said. “I know that the ruler Desantis said that this is all related to the young person, but I do not see any benefits of the normal atmosphere. On the contrary, I think the normal atmosphere will be hurt by this.”
Critics said that the joint impact of the draft law is to limit the media and the general scrutiny of strong numbers by imposing huge financial burdens in the event of mistakes. The media insurance costs are likely to rise to defend themselves in court, which endangers small groups such as FCGA. Ultimately, many outlets may have decided that some stories do not deserve the risk of litigation, according to Hans, who described the bill as an attempt to intimidate the press.
“Instead of passing through a complex analysis, Well, does this politician work as a general figure when we talk about this thing or not? How can we know that?You will say many organizations and correspondents completely rationally, We only will not deal with that. We will not report this,Hans said.
Although some may celebrate what they consider the right -wing government of Florida, which chases the left media, the cold in public discourse will affect people from all political lines. Fox News, after all, is the defendant currently in two of the most close scenes Defamation Judicial cases In the country.
“Many conservatives and supporters Donald Trump Ron Desantis will look at this and say, “Haha, difficult noogoes, New York Times and Washington Post!” But I do not think they are aware of how this could affect the local governorate radio station. “
HB 991 is just a modern attempt by the Florida government to take strict measures to speak, whether it is The classroomand UniversitiesOr Protests in Capitol StateWith Desantis and its allies work to silence everyone Teachers to Disney. Many of these bills already Copies inspired in other statesAnd given the reporting of the ruler on a large scale Presidential aspirationsPetersen said that people all over the United States should focus on this last attack.
She said: “People should pay attention to what is happening in Florida, because our ruler will nominate the presidency in the 2024 elections, and this is completely clear that what he tries to do is to make Florida a model for the rest of the nation.”