We are being buried in legal paperwork. We have had to find attorneys willing to take on our case free of charge because we lack the finances to fight off prolonged, costly, and harassing lawsuits. While I am confident that we will ultimately prevail in the courts, the process of defending oneself is hellish. In Ohio, we have already we have seen the chilling effect that the veggie-libel law has had on free speech. The same company who sued me has sent threatening letters to local residents, activists, and in one case, a public health official.
People are now afraid to speak out because they fear getting sued.
The suit against me and Ohio PIRG has effectively done that. For me, free speech is an essential part of my life as an American.