Lafferty v. Jones

Summary

The court affirmed sanctions that barred the defendants from pursuing statutory special motions to dismiss after repeated discovery violations and threatening, harassing broadcasts directed at opposing counsel. It held that sanctioning a litigant for extrajudicial speech is constitutionally permissible when the speech presents an imminent and likely threat to the administration of justice and the sanction is necessary and proportionate to protecting fair proceedings. The court also held that the defendants received adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. No separate opinions were filed.