Anti-SLAPP
Fiduciary Duty
An appeals court in California upheld the denial of an anti-SLAPP motion brought by the former chairman of a Chinese transportation construction company who faces claims that he breached his fiduciary duty by allegedly accepting $19 million in bribes. The former chairman claimed the company is a “component of China’s military industrial complex involved in developing magnetic levitation military weapons.”
Read moreAmerican Apparel
An appeals court in California upheld the denial of an anti-SLAPP motion by former American Apparel CEO Dov Charney and his attorney, who were sued by Standard General for allegedly engaging in a series of fraudulent transfers to enable Charney to avoid paying the hedge fund’s judgments against him.
Read moreGreenpeace
A federal judge awarded Greenpeace nearly a million dollars for attorneys fees after it won an anti-SLAPP lawsuit against logging company Resolute Forest Products that said the environmental group defamed it.
Read moreSurf Spat
An anti-SLAPP motion made by men who are purportedly members of the “Lunada Bay Boys” was properly denied, an appeals court in California ruled. The men face claims they harassed and conspired to assault non-local surfers attempting to use a local beach. The “Lunada Bay Boys” consider themselves guardians of the premier surf spot.
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Virginia Judge Calls for Discovery in Nunes Defamation Suit
A lawsuit California Congressman Devin Nunes filed in Virginia against California-based media giant McClatchy will live to see another day after a judge called Wednesday for more discovery on personal jurisdiction.
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Anti-SLAPP Speech Protections Pushed in Virginia Legislature
Virginia lawmakers advanced a bill Monday aimed at preventing frivolous litigation that could chill speech, in the wake of headline-making defamation lawsuits filed in state courts by out-of-state celebrities and politicians.
Read moreNeighbors
A man’s anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss breach of contract and defamation claims was properly denied, a California appeals court ruled. The man posted damaging comments about his neighbor on Nextdoor.com, violating a nondisparagement clause in a settlement reached after his dog killed his neighbor’s cat.
Read moreAnti-SLAPP
Reversing, a California Appeals Court ruled that the trial court incorrectly declined to grant the anti-SLAPP motion of a film producer who was sued by an investor who said no “substantial” work had been completed on a documentary about the Syrian refugee crisis — the appeals court found project is an act “in furtherance” of protected speech.
Read moreActor’s Anti-SLAAP
A California appeals court upheld the denial of Shia LaBeouf’s anti-SLAPP motion in a case relating to an altercation he had with a bartender who refused to serve the actor and his companion alcohol. LaBeouf called the bartender a “racist” and video footage of the incident was posted on the internet and broadcast on TMZ. The bartender sued for assault and slander.
Read moreVexatious Defamation Suit Will Cost Sheldon Adelson
After more than half a decade of bitter litigation with Republican kingmaker Sheldon Adelson, the National Jewish Democratic Council will finally have a sweet and happy new year.
Read moreArbitration Likely in $100 Million Fight Between Michael Jackson Estate and HBO
A federal judge indicated Thursday he will deny entertainment network HBO’s request to keep a dispute with the estate of pop legend Michael Jackson over the “Leaving Neverland” documentary out of arbitration.
Read moreEmployment
A federal judge refused to dismiss a claim that the Palomar Community College District fired a woman for participating in a sexual harassment investigation against two professors, otherwise, “public employers could simply terminate employees with unlawful motives and then shield themselves with the anti-SLAPP statute.”
Read moreCalifornia High Court Orders New Look at CNN Bias Case
The California Supreme Court sent a lawsuit arising from CNN’s firing of a producer back to an appeals court Monday to determine whether the network’s actions were discriminatory.
Read moreCalifornia Justices Narrow Anti-SLAPP Scope in Streaming Ad Flap
The California Supreme Court revived a streaming service’s libel suit against a trade publication Monday in a case that could have major free speech implications for the Golden State’s entertainment industry and beyond.
Read moreStreaming Service Urges Narrowing of Anti-SLAPP Speech Protections
The attorney for a video streaming service engaged in a contentious defamation lawsuit with ad tracker DoubleVerify urged California’s high court Wednesday to draw limits around the free speech protections in the state’s anti-SLAPP law.
Read moreStadium SLAPP
The California Supreme Court on Monday ordered a trial court to determine whether a company hired by the Southern California city of Carson to woo a National Football League team will prevail on his claims surrounding the city’s decision to hire someone else – a key element to decide the city’s anti-SLAPP motion to strike the suit.
Read moreEddie Money SLAPP
Rock star Eddie Money’s decision to fire his drummer amounted to protected activity for the purpose of his anti-SLAPP motion to strike the drummer’s lawsuit, a California appellate panel ruled Friday, leaving it for the trial court to decide whether the drummer still has a chance of prevailing on the merits.
Read moreJudge Dumps Stormy Defamation Suit Against Trump
A federal judge on Monday tossed adult film star Stormy Daniels’ defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, and also awarded the president attorney’s fees.
Read moreUpstart Congregation Ducks Megachurch Trademark Spat
A Philippines-based megachurch must amend its claims against a group of expelled ministers and members it accuses of stealing its logo and copyrighted hymns to start their own competing church.
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