A Federal judge has thrown out Gregg Schumacher’s lawsuit against the In Defense of Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters outside his store. SCHUMACHER: “Self destructive path…”

Judge Michael Mosman yesterday threw out Schumacher’s case against IDA and PETA—brought in late April—after IDA’s lawyers successfully argued against it using an anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) motion, under legislation designed to protect the free speech rights of protesters.

“I don’t know why the Schumachers are on such a self-destructive path,” says Matt Rossell, Portland’s community outreach coordinator for IDA, “But I am pleased the suit failed so early. It would have been a waste of time and resources for everybody to pursue it further.”

“It looked to us like a desperate attempt,” says PETA spokeswoman Josie Zohny. “They can’t really defend their practices, so instead they lashed out at the people calling them out.”

The City of Portland remains on the hook in the lawsuit, but IDA’s attorney, Mark McDougal, says he doesn’t see how the Schumachers will be able to win anything against the city, when they have not been able to prove their case against the protesters.

“This lawsuit was frivolous from the start,” says McDougal. “The Schumachers were trying to scare protesters. They have made bad decisions all the way along, whether attempting to engage protesters with a sign saying they should be anally electrocuted, or trying to spin this so they could get press for their business. What they really need to do is simply find a location that is suitable for their business.”

The Schumachers’ spokesman, Dan McWilliams, is in the process of getting back to us.