House bill would end 'libel tourism'
The House passed a bill that would shield American writers from foreign lawsuits.
The bill (HR 2765 ) would bar U.S. courts from recognizing and enforcing a foreign libel ruling unless the country provides similar speech and press rights as in the United States, or unless the accused would have been found liable here, CQ reporter Joanna Anderson reports.
Because of the First Amendment and expansive Supreme Court rulings in cases such as New York Times v. Sullivan , writers have much more protection from libel suits here than in other countries.
To get around this, some plaintiffs have engaged in so-called "libel tourism," by filing suit in other countries.
The Senate passed a similar bill last week, so the legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.
— Ryan Teague Beckwith, Congress.org
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