Posted on 12/29/2005 9:11:15 PM PST by alydar
A lawyer, citing a state law that encourages open debate about development projects, is seeking dismissal of a suit that claims his clients conspired to stop construction of a large mosque and cultural center in Roxbury.
Boston lawyer Jeffrey S. Robbins declared in motions filed last Friday in Suffolk Superior Court that his clients had not made any false or defamatory statements about the Islamic Society of Boston, which is developing the $24.5 million project in Roxbury Crossing, or its leaders.
Also, Robbins, who represents a handful of the groups and individuals named in the suit, stated in his motions that whatever statements they had made were protected by a 1994 law -- the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation statute (known by its acronym SLAPP) -- which the Legislature approved to prevent major developers from suing dissenters to silence their opposition to projects.
In October, the Islamic Society filed a lawsuit against 16 individuals and entities, including the Boston Herald and Fox Television's Channel 25, alleging they had conspired to publish and broadcast false and defamatory information about mosque leaders in part to halt development of the project. Planned as the largest mosque in New England, the development, scheduled to open in November 2004, is still far from completion as donations have slowed to a trickle. The case expanded suits the society filed last February.
Robbins acknowledged that his clients had participated in research that revealed that some of the Islamic Society officials had made extremist statements in the past.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
"....Islamic Society officials had made extremist statements in the past".
Why move for dismissal then? Get on with discovery and shake it all out!
Maybe these people people named in the suit have some legitimate concerns. I would expect that the zoning laws are pretty strict on the placement of bomb factories and ammunition storage facilities.
Yes, lets skin this onion and see how bad it really smells.
If they want some FALSE statements about Islam, I'll be glad to provide a few:
Islam is a religion of peace.
Islam is tolerant of other religions.
Islam believes Israel has a right to exist.
Islam is a leader in protecting the rights of women.
Islamists neither intentionally fly airplanes into buildings nor cut off heads of helpless hostages and innocent children.
That is just a few false statements about Islam. I could provide many others if their lawyers would like.
A target rich environment, five times a day.
Sounds sort of like something a nutritionist would say.
"he had been regarded as a well-respected Muslim-American by the Clinton White House before he was arrested in a plot to kill the Saudi crown prince."
precious
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