During these challenging times, Severson & Werson remains open and in full operation, consistent with the firm’s previously established contingency planning. While many of our attorneys and staff will be working remotely, as a firm, we continue in full operation. We are here to help, as always.
Trial court properly denied Anti-SLAPP motion brought by defendants—JAMS and one of its mediators—since plaintiff’s lawsuit alleging misrepresentations in the mediator’s website biography arose from defendants’ advertising of services for the purpose of enticing purchasers, thus falling within the CCP 415.17(c) exception to the Anti-SLAPP statute. Read More
Popular soft-porn star adduced prima facie proof that in publishing her picture with an article about HIV in the L.A. porn industry the defendant news website edited her picture and its caption, making it more likely that the article would imply plaintiff had HIV, thus overcoming defendant’s Anti-SLAPP motion in her defamation suit. Read More
Plaintiffs’ defamation action based on a scene in American Hustle should have been stricken under the Anti-SLAPP statute as the movie was protected activity, being about subjects of public interest—the Read More
Plaintiff’s defamation action was properly stricken under the Anti-SLAPP statute as defendant’s political campaign ads calling plaintiff “unscrupulous” and a “crook” were non-actionable opinion and hyperbole and plaintiff had no proof of actual malice. Read More
The trial court did not abuse its discretion in reducing attorneys’ fees awarded to defendant on its successful Anti-SLAPP motion from $152,000 to $30,000; rather, the trial court’s reasoning was adequately supported in the record. Read More
An order granting an Anti-SLAPP motion as to two of three defendants is not appealable under federal procedural law which governs a diversity case pending in federal court—even though such an order would be appealable under California law Read More
Breach or interference with the City of Carson’s contract with an agent for negotiations for an NFL team to come to the city is not protected speech under the Anti-SLAPP statute. Read More
Fair report privilege bars defamation and trade libel claims based on a press release issued by plaintiffs’ attorneys accurately summarizing jury verdict and proceedings in a False Claims Act suit against the defamation plaintiff. Read More
Defendant’s anti-SLAPP motion was properly denied in a suit based on his public distribution of a video of fight between two neighbors, not involving any public figure or issue of public interest. Read More
A lender’s silence in response to the borrower’s request for payoff quotes and reinstatement demands is not First Amendment-protected activity, so the lender’s Anti-SLAPP motion was properly denied. Read More
