June 3, 2015
By Robert Franklin, Esq, Member, National Board of Directors, National Parents Organization
The president of the Texas Family Law Foundation, Diana Friedman has filed suit against the The Fathers Rights Movement and its founder Thomas Fidler alleging slander, libel and defamation. The suit arises out of the opposition of Friedman and the TFLF to Texas House Bill 2363 that would have established a presumption of shared parenting post-divorce in the state. The bill was defeated in the Calendar Committee before reaching a vote by the full House of Representatives, despite widespread support in the House.
Following that, the suit claims Fidler posted derogatory statements on a Facebook page and urged others to condemn Friedman’s opposition to HB2363. This article explains.
So far, Fidler and the Fathers Rights Movement have yet to file a response to the suit, but contend their messages were clearly protected speech under the First Amendment and, because Friedman appears to be a “public figure,” the Supreme Court case of New York Times vs Sullivan.