UK Libel Laws Silenced! It's About Time! Now the Senate Needs to Act!
With all the hoopla over the bailout vote and the chaos in the financial markets, Point of Law and the NYT's reported that the US House of Representatives actually accomplished something important. POL reports that the House passed legislation that would make libel judgments obtained in the UK unenforceable in the US courts. For years individuals have used the UK Libel laws to intimated reporters and authors by bring expensive actions in the UK and claiming libel. In the UK truth is apparently not a recognized defense to such actions, and the result is that Plaintiffs have been able to silence critics by intimidation and judgments even when the published reports are accurate and truthful.
Now that the House has passed the legislation, the Senate needs to act quickly, and the President needs to sign the bill into law. While this is not as urgent as a financial rescue package to save the economy, it is important.
