Civic Theatre leader’s defamation suit revived

The Washington Court of Appeals on Thursday reinstated a defamation suit filed by former Spokane Civic Theatre artistic director Yvonne A.K. Johnson against the theater’s former music director.

Johnson fired James P. Ryan in 2010 after revelations about his “swingers” lifestyle came to light. In early 2011 he launched a blog, Civic Doody, in which he has detailed his complaints about his termination and Johnson’s work at Civic.

Johnson filed the defamation suit in 2013, claiming Ryan’s blog was derogatory and damaging. Ryan filed a motion to strike the case, arguing that Washington’s Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation law protected his online speech as “matters of public concern.”

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Gregory Sypolt agreed with Ryan, ruling in June 2013 to dismiss Johnson’s suit and ordered her to pay a $10,000 fine and Ryan’s attorney fees.

Less than a month later, Civic fired Johnson.

However, the appeals court disagreed with the ruling, finding that “the primary intent of (Ryan’s) speech is not some lofty public good, but merely establishing that his employer was wrong in firing him,” and therefore not protected under the SLAPP law, Judge Robert Lawrence-Berrey and Chief Judge Laurel H. Siddoway ruled.

Susan Nelson, Johnson’s attorney, said her client is thrilled by the ruling.

“It’s such vindication for everything she’s gone through,” Nelson said. “She’s finally feeling as if this horrible onslaught against her is coming to an end.”

Nelson said she plans to proceed with her defamation claim.