U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier denied a motion filed by defendant Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich under Louisiana’s law against SLAPPs — “strategic lawsuits against public participation.” The law is intended to protect defendants from lawsuits meant to stifle free speech. Barbier ruled that the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center was likely to succeed on its breach-of-contract claims.

He did not rule on a subsequent breach-of-fiduciary-duty claim.