Chris Hamer ordered to pay Rio Dell Times owner's attorney over $53,000

I wrote about this last January. 

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/an-alzheimer-patient-judge-timothy.html?m=1

Sharon Wolff, the owner and publisher of the Rio Dell Times just issued a press release titled, "Judge sides with local journalists against major law firm in unique defamation case."

I don't consider the law firm in the press release "major" in Humboldt. I applaud Sharon Wolff from not allowing local bullies to run over the First Amendment.

Judge Timothy Canning recused himself. Two other Judges are listed but somehow the case ended up with Judge Gregory Kreis. Victory for free speech is great but not every media outlet can afford Paul Boylan or an attorney. Would Judge Kreis rule in favor of other independent local internet media in an anti SLAAP motion? 

At 3:04, heard from Sharon Wolff. "Hi John,  Thank you for running the story.  Just wanted to say that we couldn’t afford Paul Nicholas Boylan either. He agreed to represent us on a contingency basis which meant that if we won, he would get his fees from Hamer and Mendonca but if we lost, we would pay him nothing.  Paul Boylan was instrumental in helping us get an investigative report into the Rio Dell Public Works department released years ago – also on a contingency basis. We couldn’t do the work we’re doing without the critical assistance offered by Paul and his years of experience defending the First Amendment."

Excerpts of ruling from Humboldt Superior Court system: