New York’s anti-SLAPP statute was enacted to prevent public permit holders from threatening litigation (typically by asserting defamation claims) as a means of harassing, intimidating, or punishing individuals who involved themselves in public affairs by opposing them.

The purpose of the statute is to protect the exercise of free speech, petition, and association. To ensure these protections, the anti-SLAPP law permits individual defendants to seek dismissal of complaints pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7), whereby they are required to first demonstrate that the claims constitute a SLAPP suit under CPLR 3211(g).