Joe Salazar's lawsuit against Public Trust Institute can move forward, Colorado court says

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

59% : In their ruling, the Court of Appeals noted the argument by Staiert that a malicious prosecution claim cannot be based on truthful complaints to governmental investigators, that the First Amendment requires Salazar's claim to be dismissed and that the administrative proceedings of the secretary of state were "insufficient to support a malicious prosecution claim."
45% : Attorney Daniel Burrows, representing PTI and Staiert, in his November 2021 brief, said the First Amendment requires "actual malice" -- "clear evidence that the defendant made a false statement of fact, either knowing it to be false or in reckless disregard thereof -- before liability may attach in a case brought by a public figure" like Salazar.

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