From a post on another site!
Here is the complete 2025 playbook that an average person (or a high-school kid from Kentucky) actually has when a mega-corporation, media conglomerate, or billionaire-funded NGO defames, deplatforms, or destroys their life.
These tools have all been used successfully in the last five years. Most are cheap or free if you know where to look.
1. Defamation Lawsuits (SLAPPs and Anti-SLAPP)
Regular defamation/libel/slander suit (Covington Catholic kids got $275 million total in settlements from CNN, WaPo, NBC, etc.)
Anti-SLAPP motion (in 33 states + D.C.): if they try to SLAPP you with a frivolous countersuit, you can force them to pay your legal fees early.
Texas Citizens Participation Act, California Anti-SLAPP, Florida’s new 2023 law — all very plaintiff-friendly now.
Pro bono or contingency firms that hate corporate media and will take your case for free if it’s strong:
Clare Locke LLP (Sandmann’s firm)
Dhillon Law Group
America First Legal (Stephen Miller’s group)
Liberty Justice Center
Southeastern Legal Foundation
2. Pre-Litigation Demand Letters (the “Legal Notice”)
A $5,000–$15,000 letter from a reputable firm often triggers seven-figure settlements because corporations fear discovery.
Nick Sandmann’s team sent ~50 demand letters; most settled before filing.
3. Section 230 Work-Arounds (Big Tech Specific)
Platforms are immune for third-party content, but NOT immune for their own editorial statements (“Community Notes,” shadowban notices, “fact-check” labels). Sue for the label itself (Dominion v. Fox, Smartmatic cases).
State-level laws bypassing 230: Texas HB20 (2022), Florida SB7072 (2021) — upheld in parts by 11th Circuit 2024.
File in state court under deceptive trade practices or consumer-protection statutes (Missouri v. Biden precedent helps).
4. RICO / Civil Conspiracy Claims
When multiple media outlets + NGOs + advertisers coordinate to destroy you (GDI, NewsGuard, CCDH, Sleeping Giants boycott campaigns), you can sue the entire network under civil RICO or conspiracy.
Missouri v. Biden (2023–2025) proved coordination between government + media + NGOs = discovery goldmine.
5. Small-Claims or State Court “Private Nuisance” / IIED Suits
File in small-claims court for the $10k–$25k limit — no lawyers allowed, so CNN has to send a $1,500/hr partner to rural Kentucky to defend a tweet.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) has no cap in most states and is harder to dismiss.
6. Economic & Reputational Tools (Non-Legal but Brutal)
Counter-boycott: publicize the advertisers and use apps like Goods Unite Us or 2ndVote to organize mass cancellation of their sponsors.
Public records requests (FOIA/MO Sunshine) on any government official who amplified the defamation.
Government or Public Officials also carry Public Official Bonds. It maybe easier to go after and file against the bond or you can use that in the process of getting litigation off the ground.
Crowdfund your legal fees (GiveSendGo, Fundly, Christian crowdfunding sites raised $3M+ for Sandmann, Rittenhouse, Gibson’s Bakery).
7. Diplomatic / Public Pressure Tools
File ICCPR complaints with the UN Human Rights Committee (U.S. signed it; media censorship violates Article 19).
EU citizens: file GDPR “right to be forgotten” + defamation actions in Ireland/UK against U.S. media.
Get your Congressman or state AG to open a consumer-protection or civil-rights investigation (Missouri AG got $400M+ in settlements that way).
8. Insurance Coverage Hacks
Most homeowners/renters policies cover “personal injury” (including defamation). File a claim — the insurance company suddenly has a financial incentive to sue on your behalf.
9. New 2024–2025 Weapons
Eight states now have “Media Accountability Acts” (modeled on Texas) that strip 230 protection from outlets that act as publishers.
Trump’s January 2025 executive order created a federal “Defamation Victims Task Force” inside DOJ — average citizens can submit cases for possible intervention.
Bottom line: the Covington kids proved the playbook works.
You do NOT need to be rich.
You can do this yourself if you want to take the time to learn how or you can find a lawyer or attorney who hates the media more than he loves money, a viral clip of the lie, and the willingness to fight for 18–36 months.
The tools are there.
The precedent is set.
The corporations are now terrified the next target won’t be a broke teenager — it’ll be them writing eight-figure checks.
Use them.
From a post on another site!
Here is the complete 2025 playbook that an average person (or a high-school kid from Kentucky) actually has when a mega-corporation, media conglomerate, or billionaire-funded NGO defames, deplatforms, or destroys their life.
These tools have all been used successfully in the last five years. Most are cheap or free if you know where to look.
1. Defamation Lawsuits (SLAPPs and Anti-SLAPP)
Regular defamation/libel/slander suit (Covington Catholic kids got $275 million total in settlements from CNN, WaPo, NBC, etc.)
Anti-SLAPP motion (in 33 states + D.C.): if they try to SLAPP you with a frivolous countersuit, you can force them to pay your legal fees early.
Texas Citizens Participation Act, California Anti-SLAPP, Florida’s new 2023 law — all very plaintiff-friendly now.
Pro bono or contingency firms that hate corporate media and will take your case for free if it’s strong:
Clare Locke LLP (Sandmann’s firm)
Dhillon Law Group
America First Legal (Stephen Miller’s group)
Liberty Justice Center
Southeastern Legal Foundation
2. Pre-Litigation Demand Letters (the “Legal Notice”)
A $5,000–$15,000 letter from a reputable firm often triggers seven-figure settlements because corporations fear discovery.
Nick Sandmann’s team sent ~50 demand letters; most settled before filing.
3. Section 230 Work-Arounds (Big Tech Specific)
Platforms are immune for third-party content, but NOT immune for their own editorial statements (“Community Notes,” shadowban notices, “fact-check” labels). Sue for the label itself (Dominion v. Fox, Smartmatic cases).
State-level laws bypassing 230: Texas HB20 (2022), Florida SB7072 (2021) — upheld in parts by 11th Circuit 2024.
File in state court under deceptive trade practices or consumer-protection statutes (Missouri v. Biden precedent helps).
4. RICO / Civil Conspiracy Claims
When multiple media outlets + NGOs + advertisers coordinate to destroy you (GDI, NewsGuard, CCDH, Sleeping Giants boycott campaigns), you can sue the entire network under civil RICO or conspiracy.
Missouri v. Biden (2023–2025) proved coordination between government + media + NGOs = discovery goldmine.
5. Small-Claims or State Court “Private Nuisance” / IIED Suits
File in small-claims court for the $10k–$25k limit — no lawyers allowed, so CNN has to send a $1,500/hr partner to rural Kentucky to defend a tweet.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) has no cap in most states and is harder to dismiss.
6. Economic & Reputational Tools (Non-Legal but Brutal)
Counter-boycott: publicize the advertisers and use apps like Goods Unite Us or 2ndVote to organize mass cancellation of their sponsors.
Public records requests (FOIA/MO Sunshine) on any government official who amplified the defamation.
Government or Public Officials also carry Public Official Bonds. It maybe easier to go after and file against the bond or you can use that in the process of getting litigation off the ground.
Crowdfund your legal fees (GiveSendGo, Fundly, Christian crowdfunding sites raised $3M+ for Sandmann, Rittenhouse, Gibson’s Bakery).
7. Diplomatic / Public Pressure Tools
File ICCPR complaints with the UN Human Rights Committee (U.S. signed it; media censorship violates Article 19).
EU citizens: file GDPR “right to be forgotten” + defamation actions in Ireland/UK against U.S. media.
Get your Congressman or state AG to open a consumer-protection or civil-rights investigation (Missouri AG got $400M+ in settlements that way).
8. Insurance Coverage Hacks
Most homeowners/renters policies cover “personal injury” (including defamation). File a claim — the insurance company suddenly has a financial incentive to sue on your behalf.
9. New 2024–2025 Weapons
Eight states now have “Media Accountability Acts” (modeled on Texas) that strip 230 protection from outlets that act as publishers.
Trump’s January 2025 executive order created a federal “Defamation Victims Task Force” inside DOJ — average citizens can submit cases for possible intervention.
Bottom line: the Covington kids proved the playbook works.
You do NOT need to be rich.
You can do this yourself if you want to take the time to learn how or you can find a lawyer or attorney who hates the media more than he loves money, a viral clip of the lie, and the willingness to fight for 18–36 months.
The tools are there.
The precedent is set.
The corporations are now terrified the next target won’t be a broke teenager — it’ll be them writing eight-figure checks.
Use them.
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