Anti-SLAPP Law

California’s anti-SLAPP statute is a powerful tool. It allows the trial court to dismiss a plaintiff’s claims very early, if the claims arise from an act in furtherance of the rights of petition or free speech in connection with a public issue, unless the plaintiff can show a probability of success.  There’s been an explosion of anti-SLAPP rulings in recent years, and many of those rulings make their way to the appellate courts.  GMSR has successfully handled anti-SLAPP appeals addressing an array of issues.

GMSR wins affirmance of anti-SLAPP order, striking malicious prosecution claim against individual who assisted police officers

Rental property managers in San Luis Obispo received anonymous letters threatening to shoot them and their tenants if they rented properties to minorities.  The police identified a chief suspect, Richard Orcutt, and contacted one of Orcutt’s prior co-workers, city fire official John MacDonald.  MacDonald stated

Orcutt v. MacDonald (Mar. 16, 2023, B319016) 2023 WL 2532025 [nonpublished opinion]

GMSR wins affirmance of anti-SLAPP order, striking malicious prosecution claim against individual who assisted police officers

Oct 12, 2022 Alana H. Rotter
Is Your Anti-SLAPP Ruling Appealable? An Overview of California and Ninth Circuit Rules

Wondering whether the partial grant of an anti-SLAPP motion, or the denial of an anti-SLAPP motion, is appealable?  A new ABTL Report article by GMSR’s Alana Rotter reviews anti-SLAPP appealability in California and the Ninth Circuit, including which rulings are immediately appealable and the impact

Baral v. Schnitt (Jan. 28, 2022, B298050) 2022 WL 263108 [nonpublished opinion]

Court of Appeal reverses $3.5 million jury award and JNOV denial, ordering entry of judgment for GMSR’s client

Court Of Appeal Reverses $3.5 Million Jury Award And JNOV Denial, Ordering Entry Of Judgment For GMSR’s Client

GMSR’s client and his co-investors agreed to sell their accounting software business.  After the sale closed, an investor who had received $3.6 million for his share sued the client for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, claiming that he had forced the sale against the

Nov 03, 2020 Alana H. Rotter
Join us at the USC Gould School of Law 46th Annual Trust and Estate Conference online!

Friday, November 13 at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Pacific Time Alana Rotter, Appellate Specialist at Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP, along with Paul Gordon Hoffman, Founding Member of Hoffman, Sabban & Watenmaker, will present: No-Contest Clauses and the Anti-SLAPP Statute: Traps for the

Feb 21, 2018 Jeffrey E. Raskin
Jeff Raskin discusses the Supreme Court’s recent and upcoming decisions in the quickly-developing area of anti-SLAPP jurisprudence.

In the last two years, the California Supreme Court has decided as many anti-SLAPP cases as it did in the prior seven years combined. The Court has an additional nine anti-SLAPP cases currently pending on its docket. In the Winter 2018 ABTL Report, Jeff Raskin

Oct 26, 2017 Alana H. Rotter
Anti-SLAPP motions in probate? Alana Rotter explains a new decision applying the anti-SLAPP statute to petitions to enforce a no-contest clause.

Litigators are used to seeing anti-SLAPP motions in civil cases.  But a new California Court of Appeal decision highlights that anti-SLAPP motions are also an option in the probate context, to challenge a petition to enforce a will or trust’s no-contest clause.  Alana Rotter discusses

GMSR Wins Affirmance Of Anti-SLAPP Ruling

Melamed v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2017) 8 Cal.App.5th 1271. A physician sued a hospital and some doctors, alleging that the summary suspension of his medical staff privileges was motivated by retaliatory animus.  The Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal of the suit under the anti-SLAPP statute.  On the first

Melamed v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Oct. 6, 2017, B263095) 2017 WL 4510849 [nonpublished opinion]

A physician sued a hospital and some doctors, alleging that the summary suspension of his medical staff privileges was motivated by retaliatory animus.  The Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal of the suit under the anti-SLAPP statute.  On the first prong, it held that the claims arose out of

Who We Serve

PUBLIC ENTITIES

Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.

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INSURERS

Where coverage may exist, GMSR represents insureds on appeal effectively and efficiently. Where it does not, the firm protects insurers’ right to deny claims.

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BUSINESSES

GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.

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TRIAL COUNSEL

The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.

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INDIVIDUALS

GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.

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COMMUNITY PRO BONO

As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.

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