A far-right '1st Amendment' group lost its defamation lawsuit. Now the New York Times is suing them back
Source: The Independent
Wednesday 06 August 2025 14:43 EDT
The New York Times is firing back against the far-right “paramilitary group” that accused the paper of defamation, filing a new lawsuit after the organization's $100 million case was thrown out of court.
In a complaint that was filed in New York this week, the Times is suing 1st Amendment Praetorian for “reasonable costs, attorney’s fees, and disbursements pursuant to New York Civil Rights Law” while noting that the paper incurred at least $50,000 in legal fees defending against the organization’s “meritless” litigation. It is a lawsuit under anti-SLAPP provisions designed to protect First Amendment rights.
“Judge [Mary Kay] Vyskocil's careful opinion granting our motion to dismiss recognized that the claims against The Times were meritless,” a New York Times spokesperson told The Independent. “New York's anti-SLAPP law therefore requires that 1st Amendment Praetorian pay the costs of The Times's defense. Fee shifting is an important deterrent to frivolous lawsuits against the press and The Times looks forward to recovering its costs.”
The Independent has reached out to the 1st Amendment Praetorian for comment.
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/new-york-times-anti-slapp-lawsuit-b2803172.html
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