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March 28, 2024

OPPL’s Bittman SLAPPs at Fox, DuJan, and others in civil suit –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On November 30, 2014

ORLAND PARK, IL. (ECWd) –

Orland Park Public Library’s marketing and public relations director, Bridget Bittman, has filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in Chicago claiming “defamation per se, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and [civil] assault” where she believes the defendants intentionally published false and misleading information designed do harm her reputation, further claiming it was not designed to affect changes in policy (trying to negate the SLAPP claim that will certainly follow).

Bittman seeks statutory damages, punitive damages, compensatory damages, attorney’s costs and fees, and injunctive relief.

We are going to hit most of the points in the suit, and will provide our opinion and commentary at the end.

The creux of the case revolves around publication of several statements:

First, being a May 18, 2014 post on a facebook page that Bittman claims accused her of filing false police reports.

Specifically, Defendant Fox stated:
I wonder at what point in their presentation at the Hatefest that Mary Weimar and Bridget Bittman taught the other public employees in attendance about using the police as a weapon against their perceived enemies in the “opposition.” Do you know that the Orland Park Public Library Board contacted the police SIX TIMES in total to make false police complaints against me (and a few times against Kevin too) . . .

Second,  Bittman complains about a picture and this statement claiming it portrayed Bittman as drinking alcohol while on the job at OPPL:

In a comment to the post with Google Photo, Defendant Fox stated:
[Bridget Bittman] would have to be drunk to claim the ridiculous things she does about the library in the media
“Sober up Bridget [t]he truth will set you free!”

Third, Bittman complains that Fox posted photographs of her home on Fox’s facebook page.

Fourth, Bittman complains about the posting of a video where it was claimed that Bittman “commits disorderly conduct/breach of peace according to Officer Schmidt” in a confrontation outside the Orland Park Civic Center. The video also claimed that Bittman uttered anti-gay slurs and questioned whether Bittman was holding a weapon of some sort. The captions on the video stated, among others, that Bittman was cited for disorderly conduct/breach of peace for this incident, when she was not cited for it. Additionally, the caption said that Bittman engaged in shameful behavior and was highly unprofessional.

Fifth, Bittman complained that the other defendants republished articles with links to the video talked about above.

Sixth, Bittman claims Fox and DuJan created a “Sassyplants” facebook page, where they used her image, and alleged they attempted to make people think it was actually her facebook page, among other things.

Seventh, this complaint alleges that all parties collaborated and worked in concert with each other in making the statements.

Our Opinion on this suit:

—  Bittman acknowledged, that as an employee of the Orland Park Public Library, she responded to complaints from Fox and DuJan.

—  I am finding it hard to find, in the statement above, where Fox stated Bittman filed false police reports. I do see where Fox claimed the Orland Park Public Library Board did that.

—  The picture was of Bittman holding a bottle of champagne – but I do not see where that “portrayed” Bittman as drinking on the job.

—  I’m having a hard time seeing how posting a picture of a person’s home on facebook is harassment, since google street view shows homes on the internet and Bittman’s address is public record for anyone that wants to look. Additionally, with GIS technology at anyone’s fingertips, most County Tax Assessors allow for searching of names that link to properties owned by an individual – to include pictures of their homes – and all available online, 24 hours/day.

—  The video. I was present in the interview room with Officer Schmidt where he told us, after watching the video, that he saw disorderly conduct/breach of peace within the video.

SLAPP – Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation – whether defendant can prevail in claiming this is a SLAPP suit is left to the Courts. I am presuming that this will be the first claimed defense, maybe not. The most common complaint used in SLAPP suits? Defamation.

The Illinois Citizen Participation Act, is designed for quick dissolution of lawsuits that can be proven to be designed to intimidate, or sue, others into not speaking out about public officers, public employees, and public contractors. One key element in claiming the suit is a SLAPP, is that whatever you were doing was designed around affecting a change in policy, and/or affecting a change in thought and attitudes to further affect change in policy.

Finally, read the statute dealing with Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly refereed to as “SLAPP” lawsuits.  The Illinois General Assembly recognized the need for public involvement, and their RIGHT to become involved, without the threat of lawsuits.  Specifically, by enacting  The Citizen Participation Act (735 ILCS 110), more commonly known as the Anti-SLAPP Act.

"...There has been a disturbing increase in lawsuits termed "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" in government or "SLAPPs" as they are popularly called. 
    The threat of SLAPPs significantly chills and diminishes citizen participation in government, voluntary public service, and the exercise of these important constitutional rights. This abuse of the judicial process can and has been used as a means of intimidating, harassing, or punishing citizens and organizations for involving themselves in public affairs... "

That’s a pretty harsh statement, but is the leading statement in the Citizen Participation Act.

Suit-Pic (WinCE)

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10 Comments
  • ECWDogs
    Posted at 21:21h, 30 November

    OPPL’s Bittman SLAPPs at Fox, DuJan, and others in civil suit – http://t.co/NLOwVOosOJ

  • SafeLibraries
    Posted at 21:23h, 30 November

    RT @ECWDogs: OPPL’s Bittman SLAPPs at Fox, DuJan, and others in civil suit – http://t.co/NLOwVOosOJ

  • SafeLibraries
    Posted at 21:35h, 30 November

    MT @ECWDogs: “OPPL’s Bittman SLAPPs at Fox, DuJan in civil suit http://t.co/UZuvn3m59B” @intolerantfox @evilesq #lgbt #lgbtq #gay #h8 #SLAPP

  • SafeLibraries
    Posted at 22:29h, 30 November

    SLAPP suit filed to silence critics of child pornography in a public library via @ECWDogs #libchat #TeamHarpy… http://t.co/arPWhwePXs

  • Mitch
    Posted at 06:14h, 01 December

    How much do you think this will cost Megan Fox et al? $50k? $70k?

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 08:08h, 01 December

      I think the question should be: How much will Bittman pay Fox et al when it gets thrown out?

      • Mitch
        Posted at 08:50h, 01 December

        Nothing.

        • jmkraft
          Posted at 08:55h, 01 December

          Keep dreaming…

  • DHerman
    Posted at 06:53h, 02 December

    My take is that this lawsuit will survive an anti-SLAPP motion. It is clear from the complaint that the plaintiff is not trying to stifle anyone’s free speech. There are other similar SLAPP cases in Illinois – all that do not approach the level of harassment this plaintiff has endured – that have survived anti-SLAPP motions.

    She simply wants the personal harassment and defamation of character to stop. And posting a photo of her home is harassment with clear intent place the subject in fear. There’s no doubt that someone was trying to destroy the plaintiff’s reputation when they created the Facebook page using the plaintiff’s name and photograph for her flower business.

    Somewhere down the line, it is possible that one or two of the defendants that are not directly involved in creating the videos or posting the numerous posts that Fox does on her Facebook page may get out of this lawsuit. I don’t see how Fox and Dujan will be able to get out of it. I’ve seen most of the videos and they’re not only childish (looping segments of the video so words are repeated) but clearly their intent is/was to harass the plaintiff.

    Fox and Dujan are probably judgment proof so they won’t have to pay anything to the plaintiff. A restraining order will probably be put in place. The judgment will be filed and their credit affected by the judgment until it is paid.

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 07:24h, 02 December

      We’ll have to wait and see what the Court does. Even if it survives a SLAPP challenge, I can’t see it winning in Court.

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