Specter and Lieberman: Foreign Courts Take Aim at Our Free Speech
Senators Arlen Specter and Joe Lieberman have this article in the Wall Street Journal. They write:
Under American law, a libel plaintiff must prove that defamatory material is false. In England, the burden is reversed. Disputed statements are presumed to be false unless proven otherwise. And the loser in the case must pay the winner’s legal fees.
Consequently, English courts have become a popular destination for libel suits against American authors.
The article goes on to cites some cases where individuals with Islamic ties have obtained judgments against American authors. It also indicates that the authors have introduced the Free Speech Protection Act of 2008 as a proposed solution.
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