Victory: FFLC Defeats Leftist ‘Lawfare’ – Lawsuit Against Spotsylvania School Board Members Thwarted

Today, the Spotsylvania Circuit Court sided with local conservative School Board members Lisa Phelps and April Gillespie on all five legal claims brought against them by fellow board member, Nicole Cole, including malicious prosecution, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC), which represents Phelps and Gillespie, argued that all five counts should be dismissed on demurrer, and the judge agreed. The court’s ruling today effectively dismisses the lawsuit against Phelps and Gillespie, however, the judge granted Cole 14 days to refile an amended Complaint if she chooses.   

For more background about this case, see our past Case News Alert: FFLC Defends Conservative School Board Members Against Liberal “Lawfare”

According to Michael Sylvester, Litigation Counsel for FFLC who argued the case, “We are glad the court so decisively agreed with us that this case has no basis to move forward. The court system should not be used to silence political opponents, and today's ruling rightfully ends one such attempt to do so.”

According to Lisa Phelps, who represents the Lee Hill District on the Spotsylvania School Board, “We’re thrilled with today’s result, which reinforces the law and frankly common sense. We haven’t done any of the things we’re being accused of, and it’s sad we have had to defend ourselves against this kind of political targeting. But thankfully, justice prevailed today.”

“Hopefully the court’s ruling today means we can now move on with our lives without having to defend against baseless lawsuits simply for speaking the truth about what happened in a school board meeting,” said April Gillespie, who represents the Berkeley District on the Spotsylvania School Board. “The liberal lawfare against conservative elected officials has to stop, and today’s victory will hopefully help curtail future attempts.”