...[O]ur public communications have always been accurate, evidence-based, and aimed solely at protecting public health, the environment, and the right to information. The claims we made... are supported by factual and verifiable elements.

Our intent has never been defamatory. We acted in the public interest and in full respect of the law, exercising our constitutional and European rights to freedom of expression, civic participation, and environmental defense.

We reiterate that this lawsuit, with its disproportionate demand of two million euros in damages, represents a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP)...

It is also worth noting that the company has never taken legal action against other commentators or journalists... The present lawsuit therefore appears selective and aimed at discouraging civic and environmental advocacy...

The lawsuit specifically concerns our use of the word “degradation” to describe the condition of the Fox Petroli site. The company is well aware that the land in question... contains hydrocarbons and heavy metals. This is evidenced both by a 2001 soil analysis carried out by a private laboratory on behalf of Fox Petroli and by several documents...