Thalin v. Misbach [1]

In 2004, Laura Thalin and Hope for Children sued Alan Misbach and Matt Misbach for defamation in Utah state court over information posted on their website, KidsComeFirst [2]. According to the Deseret News [3], the website site contained photos and links to news articles critical of "holding therapy [4]," a controversial method for treating troubled children advocated by the now-defunct Cascade Center for Family Growth in Orem, Utah, which was affiliated with Hope for Children and Thalin, its former director.  The Misbach's also allegedly posted a picture of Thalin and information about her past.

Alan Misbach filed a counterclaim against Thalin, Hope for Change, and the Cascade Center, alleging that the lawsuit was a malicious attempt to chill his free speech rights.  It appears that the parties came close to settling in 2005.  According to one news report [5], Thalin offered to drop the lawsuit against the Misbachs if Alan would drop the counterclaim.  However, the suit did not settle at that time, and the Misbachs brought a motion to dismiss the complaint under Utah's anti-SLAPP statute [6]. In March 2006, the court denied the motion to dismiss.

It is unclear what has happened since then.