(a) A defendant in an action involving public petition and participation, as defined in § 8136 of this title, may maintain an action, claim, cross-claim or counter-claim to recover damages, including costs and attorney’s fees, from any person who commenced or continued such action; provided that:

(1) Costs, attorney’s fees and other compensatory damages may be recovered upon a demonstration that the action involving public petition and participation was commenced or continued without a substantial basis in fact and law and could not be supported by a substantial argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law; and

(2) Punitive damages may only be recovered upon an additional demonstration that the action involving public petition and participation was commenced or continued for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, punishing or otherwise maliciously inhibiting the free exercise of speech, petition or association rights.

Ask a your personal injury law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified your personal injury lawyers.
Automobile accidents, negligence, medical malpractice, liability, and more
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 10 Sec. 8138

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

(b) The right to bring an action under this section can be waived only if it is waived specifically.

(c) Nothing in this section shall affect or preclude the right of any party to any recovery otherwise authorized by law.

68 Del. Laws, c. 391, § ?1;