LAFAYETTE MOREHOUSE, INC., et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY et al., Defendants and Respondents., 37 Cal. App. 4th 855

Summary

Appellants sought review of judgment granting a special motion to strike a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suit, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 425.16, in favor of respondent publishing companies. The court affirmed, concluding the lower court properly determined the statutory procedure for disposing of a non-meritorious cause of action that chilled the valid constitutional exercise of free speech applied to corporate publishers sued for libel based on an article made in connection with issues under consideration or review by executive, judicial, or legislative bodies. Respondents published a series of articles related to alternative lifestyle university respondents' failure to comply with county enforcement actions and a resulting civil rights lawsuit. The court explained the statute covered such activity which was an activity consistently characterized by courts as fee speech. The court next found the statute did not unconstitutionally interfere with access to ...