08/14/2025
Yesterday August 13th, 2025 Judge Jeffrey Beacham of NJ Superior Court in Essex County entered a fee judgement in the case Malespina v Winkfield et al, determining that Elissa Malespina must pay $40,474 to the defendants for legal fees. Judge Beacham had previously dismissed Malespina’s complaint with prejudice, identifying it as a SLAPP suit. New Jersey’s anti-SLAPP law requires that the plaintiff in a SLAPP suit pay the entire legal fees of the people they wrongly sued. The judge determined that Malespina must pay the full cost of the defense because anything less would mean that the community, through its donations to the defendants legal fund, was subsidizing Malespina's attempt to punish free speech.
Winkfield, Fisher and Nasteff said, “We are gratified that Judge Beacham followed the law and ensured that this effort to retaliate against us and negatively impact the SOMA community will finally come to an end. We fervently hope that these just results will prevent Malespina or anyone else from trying to use the courts to silence their neighbors. No one should have to experience getting dragged into court for speaking up for what is right. We could not have endured this unwelcome experience without the emotional and financial support of the community. We never felt alone, and for that, we could not be more grateful. Once the legal bills are paid in full, we plan to donate the remainder to nonprofits supporting marginalized youth. Thank you again to our families, friends, and neighbors for your unwavering support.”
