STRATEGIC LAWSUITS AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPP), DEMOCRATIC STATUS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE JUDICIARY: COMPARATIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Keywords:
strategic lawsuits, democratic status, freedom of media, judicial independence, judicial efficiency, comparison
Abstract
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP suits) are a legal tool for intimidating and silencing critical awareness. While they were primarily noted in America, over the last decade, they have received significant attention from the professional and general public in Europe due to their constant growth. This led to the adoption of the anti-SLAPP Directive in 2024 by the European Parliament. This paper examines the relationship between the increase in strategic lawsuits in selected European countries and their democratic status, media freedom, and judicial independence. It also investigates the relationship between the trend in the number of strategic lawsuits and judicial efficiency. The aim is to determine whether strategic lawsuits are characteristic of countries with low democratic status, a low degree of media freedom and judicial independence, and countries with inefficient courts and judicial procedures. To achieve this, we conducted a statistical analysis, which indicates that strategic lawsuits are present in all countries, regardless of the level of development of democratic institutions, the state of media freedom, judicial independence, and the efficiency of the judiciary. Based on this finding, we conclude by suggesting further research into the social, political, and legal phenomenon of SLAPP lawsuits.
References
Литература
Књиге, чланци, приручници и речници:
Beatty, J. W. (1997). The Legal Literature on SLAPPs: A Look Behind the Smoke Nine Years After Professors Pring and Canan First Yelled "Fire!". University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy. 9(1). 85-110
Bradshaw, K. (2021). Stakeholder Dynamics in Land Development Projects. The Journal of Legal Studies. 50(S2). S53–S70.
Canan, P. (1989). The SLAPP from a Sociological Perspective. Pace Environmental Law Review. 7(1). 23-32
Canan, P., Pring, G. W. (1988a). Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Social Problems. 35(5). 506-519
Canan, P., Pring, G. W. (1988b). Studying Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation: Mixing Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Law & Society Review. 22(2). 385-395
Farrington, F., Zabrocka, M. (2023). Punishment by Process: The Development of Anti-SLAPP legislation in the European Union. ERA Forum. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12027-023-00774-5
Galasso, A., Luo, H. (2022). When does product liability risk chill innovation? evidence from medical implants. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 14(2). 366-401
Jerinić, J., Vučetić, D., Stanković, M. (2020). Priručnik za sprovođenje principa dobrog upravljanja na lokalnom nivou. Beograd: Stalna konferencija gradova i opština – Savez gradova i opština Srbije. [Elektronska verzija]. Dostupno na: http://www.skgo.org/storage/app/uploads/public/161/183/388/1611833880_Prirucnik_DU.pdf
Клајн, И. (2008). Речник језичких недоумица. девето издање. Нови Сад: Прометеј
Popadić, D., Pavlović, Z., Žeželj, I. (2018). Alatke istraživača. Beograd: Klio
Pring, G. W., Canan, P. (1996). SLAPPs: Getting sued for speaking out. USA: Temple University Press
Rasmussen, K. (2011). Slapp stick: Fighting frivolous lawsuits against journalists. News Media and the Law. 35. S1–S16.
Schaufele, B. (2022). Chilling Effects from Anti-SLAPP Laws. MPRA Paper 113740. University Library of Munich, Germany.
Zdravković, A. (2022). SLAPP tužbe – zloupotreba prava na sudsku zaštitu u službi ograničavanja slobode izražavanja. Strani pravni život. LXVI/1/2022. 75-96
Извештаји и студије:
ARTICLE 19 (2021). „SLAPP“ – stanje u Srbiji. Izveštaji po državama. ARTICLE 19, ABA Centar za ljudska prava i NUNS. Доступно на: https://nuns.rs/media/2022/02/A19-Serbia-SLAPPs-report_Final_Serbian-18Feb22.pdf
Bayer, J., Bard, P. Vosyliūtė, L., Luk, C. (2021). Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in the European Union. A Comparative Study (June 30, 2021). EU-CITZEN: ACADEMIC NETWORK ON EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS. Доступно на: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4092013 или http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4092013
CASE (2022). Shutting out criticism: How SLAPPs threaten European democracy – A report by case. Prepared for the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam Law Clinics. Доступно на: https://www.the-case.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CASEreportSLAPPsEurope.pdf
CASE (2023). Shutting out criticism: SLAPPs: A threat to Democracy Continues to Grow – A 2023 report update. Prepared for the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation. Доступно на: https://www.the-case.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230703-CASE-UPDATE-REPORT-2023-1.pdf
Фридом Хаус извештај – ФХ (2023) (енгл. Freedom House report 2023). Доступно на: https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores
Мултидонаторски поверенички фонд (2014). Функционална анализа правосуђа у Србији. Извештај број 94014-YF, 2014. Доступно на: https://www.mdtfjss.org.rs/sjfr/en.
ЦЕПЕЈ (2022). Извештај Европске комисије за ефикасност правосуђа. Доступно на: https://rm.coe.int/cepej-report-2020-22-e-web/1680a86279
Правни извори:
Draft Recommendation CM/Rec(20XX)XX of the Committee of Ministers to member states on countering the use of SLAPPs. Доступно на: https://rm.coe.int/msi-slp-revised-draft-recommendation-on-slapps/1680abaf88
Eвропска конвенција за заштиту људских права (ЕКЗЉП). Превод на српски доступан на: https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention_srp
Mеђународни пакт о грађанским и политичким правима (ПАКТ). Закон о ратификацији Пакта доступан на: https://www.minljmpdd.gov.rs/pakt.php
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (“Strategic lawsuits against public participation”), (COM(2022)0177 - C9-0161/2022 - 2022/0117(COD)), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2022/0177/COM_COM(2022)0177_EN.pdf
Закон о јавном информисању и медијима (ЗЈИМ). Службени гласник РС. Бр. 92 (2023)
Закон о облигационим односима (ЗОО). Службени лист СФРЈ. Бр. 29 (1978), 39 (1985), 45 (1989) – одлука УСЈ и 57 (1989), Службени лист СРЈ. Бр. 31 (1993), Службени лист СЦГ. Бр. 1 (2003) – Уставна повеља и Службени гласник РС. Бр. 18 (2020)
Интернет извори:
CASE. How SLAPPs increasingly threaten democracy in Europe – new CASE report. https://www.the-case.eu/latest/how-slapps-increasingly-threaten-democracy-in-europe-new-case-report/, приступ: 22.4.2024.
Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). How SLAPPs increasingly threaten democracy in Europe – new CASE report. https://www.the-case.eu/latest/how-slapps-increasingly-threaten-democracy-in-europe-new-case-report/, приступ: 20.4.2024.
Council of Europe (Freedom of Expression). MSI-SLP Committee of Experts on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation, https://www.coe.int/en/web/freedom-expression/msi-slp, приступ: 25.4.2024.
European Parliament (Press Room: 11.11.2021). EU rules needed against abusive lawsuits targeting critical voices, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20211108IPR16838/eu-rules-needed-against-abusive-lawsuits-targeting-critical-voices, приступ: 24.4.2024.
European Parliament (Press Room: 27.02.2024). New EU rules to defend critical voices from judicial intimidation, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240223IPR18074/new-eu-rules-to-defend-critical-voices-from-judicial-intimidation, приступ: 24.4.2024.
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world
https://freedomhouse.org/reports/freedom-world/freedom-world-research-methodology
https://www.coe.int/en/web/cepej
https://anti-slapp.org/your-states-free-speech-protection#scorecard
https://www.freedomforum.org/anti-slapp-laws/
Statističke tablice. Obrada rezultata merenja. Доступно на: https://www.chem.bg.ac.rs/~jvelicko/ORM_2016/Statisticke%20tablice.pdf
University of Amsterdam. Amsterdam law Clinics. https://student.uva.nl/en/topics/amsterdam-law-clinics, приступ: 26.4.2024.
Књиге, чланци, приручници и речници:
Beatty, J. W. (1997). The Legal Literature on SLAPPs: A Look Behind the Smoke Nine Years After Professors Pring and Canan First Yelled "Fire!". University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy. 9(1). 85-110
Bradshaw, K. (2021). Stakeholder Dynamics in Land Development Projects. The Journal of Legal Studies. 50(S2). S53–S70.
Canan, P. (1989). The SLAPP from a Sociological Perspective. Pace Environmental Law Review. 7(1). 23-32
Canan, P., Pring, G. W. (1988a). Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Social Problems. 35(5). 506-519
Canan, P., Pring, G. W. (1988b). Studying Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation: Mixing Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Law & Society Review. 22(2). 385-395
Farrington, F., Zabrocka, M. (2023). Punishment by Process: The Development of Anti-SLAPP legislation in the European Union. ERA Forum. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12027-023-00774-5
Galasso, A., Luo, H. (2022). When does product liability risk chill innovation? evidence from medical implants. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 14(2). 366-401
Jerinić, J., Vučetić, D., Stanković, M. (2020). Priručnik za sprovođenje principa dobrog upravljanja na lokalnom nivou. Beograd: Stalna konferencija gradova i opština – Savez gradova i opština Srbije. [Elektronska verzija]. Dostupno na: http://www.skgo.org/storage/app/uploads/public/161/183/388/1611833880_Prirucnik_DU.pdf
Клајн, И. (2008). Речник језичких недоумица. девето издање. Нови Сад: Прометеј
Popadić, D., Pavlović, Z., Žeželj, I. (2018). Alatke istraživača. Beograd: Klio
Pring, G. W., Canan, P. (1996). SLAPPs: Getting sued for speaking out. USA: Temple University Press
Rasmussen, K. (2011). Slapp stick: Fighting frivolous lawsuits against journalists. News Media and the Law. 35. S1–S16.
Schaufele, B. (2022). Chilling Effects from Anti-SLAPP Laws. MPRA Paper 113740. University Library of Munich, Germany.
Zdravković, A. (2022). SLAPP tužbe – zloupotreba prava na sudsku zaštitu u službi ograničavanja slobode izražavanja. Strani pravni život. LXVI/1/2022. 75-96
Извештаји и студије:
ARTICLE 19 (2021). „SLAPP“ – stanje u Srbiji. Izveštaji po državama. ARTICLE 19, ABA Centar za ljudska prava i NUNS. Доступно на: https://nuns.rs/media/2022/02/A19-Serbia-SLAPPs-report_Final_Serbian-18Feb22.pdf
Bayer, J., Bard, P. Vosyliūtė, L., Luk, C. (2021). Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in the European Union. A Comparative Study (June 30, 2021). EU-CITZEN: ACADEMIC NETWORK ON EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS. Доступно на: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4092013 или http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4092013
CASE (2022). Shutting out criticism: How SLAPPs threaten European democracy – A report by case. Prepared for the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam Law Clinics. Доступно на: https://www.the-case.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CASEreportSLAPPsEurope.pdf
CASE (2023). Shutting out criticism: SLAPPs: A threat to Democracy Continues to Grow – A 2023 report update. Prepared for the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation. Доступно на: https://www.the-case.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230703-CASE-UPDATE-REPORT-2023-1.pdf
Фридом Хаус извештај – ФХ (2023) (енгл. Freedom House report 2023). Доступно на: https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores
Мултидонаторски поверенички фонд (2014). Функционална анализа правосуђа у Србији. Извештај број 94014-YF, 2014. Доступно на: https://www.mdtfjss.org.rs/sjfr/en.
ЦЕПЕЈ (2022). Извештај Европске комисије за ефикасност правосуђа. Доступно на: https://rm.coe.int/cepej-report-2020-22-e-web/1680a86279
Правни извори:
Draft Recommendation CM/Rec(20XX)XX of the Committee of Ministers to member states on countering the use of SLAPPs. Доступно на: https://rm.coe.int/msi-slp-revised-draft-recommendation-on-slapps/1680abaf88
Eвропска конвенција за заштиту људских права (ЕКЗЉП). Превод на српски доступан на: https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention_srp
Mеђународни пакт о грађанским и политичким правима (ПАКТ). Закон о ратификацији Пакта доступан на: https://www.minljmpdd.gov.rs/pakt.php
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (“Strategic lawsuits against public participation”), (COM(2022)0177 - C9-0161/2022 - 2022/0117(COD)), https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2022/0177/COM_COM(2022)0177_EN.pdf
Закон о јавном информисању и медијима (ЗЈИМ). Службени гласник РС. Бр. 92 (2023)
Закон о облигационим односима (ЗОО). Службени лист СФРЈ. Бр. 29 (1978), 39 (1985), 45 (1989) – одлука УСЈ и 57 (1989), Службени лист СРЈ. Бр. 31 (1993), Службени лист СЦГ. Бр. 1 (2003) – Уставна повеља и Службени гласник РС. Бр. 18 (2020)
Интернет извори:
CASE. How SLAPPs increasingly threaten democracy in Europe – new CASE report. https://www.the-case.eu/latest/how-slapps-increasingly-threaten-democracy-in-europe-new-case-report/, приступ: 22.4.2024.
Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE). How SLAPPs increasingly threaten democracy in Europe – new CASE report. https://www.the-case.eu/latest/how-slapps-increasingly-threaten-democracy-in-europe-new-case-report/, приступ: 20.4.2024.
Council of Europe (Freedom of Expression). MSI-SLP Committee of Experts on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation, https://www.coe.int/en/web/freedom-expression/msi-slp, приступ: 25.4.2024.
European Parliament (Press Room: 11.11.2021). EU rules needed against abusive lawsuits targeting critical voices, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20211108IPR16838/eu-rules-needed-against-abusive-lawsuits-targeting-critical-voices, приступ: 24.4.2024.
European Parliament (Press Room: 27.02.2024). New EU rules to defend critical voices from judicial intimidation, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240223IPR18074/new-eu-rules-to-defend-critical-voices-from-judicial-intimidation, приступ: 24.4.2024.
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world
https://freedomhouse.org/reports/freedom-world/freedom-world-research-methodology
https://www.coe.int/en/web/cepej
https://anti-slapp.org/your-states-free-speech-protection#scorecard
https://www.freedomforum.org/anti-slapp-laws/
Statističke tablice. Obrada rezultata merenja. Доступно на: https://www.chem.bg.ac.rs/~jvelicko/ORM_2016/Statisticke%20tablice.pdf
University of Amsterdam. Amsterdam law Clinics. https://student.uva.nl/en/topics/amsterdam-law-clinics, приступ: 26.4.2024.
Published
2024/11/19
Section
Original Scientific Paper