Illingworth v. Garton CA4/1 ( 2015 )

Filed 10/15/15 Illingworth v. Garton CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
GODFREY ILLINGWORTH, D066323
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2014-00006034-
CU-DF-CTL)
WILLIAM GARTON,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Joel R.
Wohlfeil, Judge. Affirmed.
John W. Howard for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Dawson & Ozanne, Brendan K. Ozanne and David A. Velijovich for Defendant
and Respondent.
Defendant and appellant William Garton appeals the order denying his anti-
SLAPP motion brought under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.161 to strike the
1 All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure. Section 425.16 is
commonly referred to as the anti-SLAPP statute. (Siam v. Kizilbash (2005) 130
defamation2 action filed against him by plaintiff and appellant Godfrey Illingworth. As
we explain, we conclude defendant's anti-SLAPP motion was properly denied because
we independently conclude defendant has failed to show the gravamen of plaintiff's
defamation action involved protected conduct within the meaning of subdivision (e)(4) of
section 425.16.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Plaintiff's Complaint
At all times relevant, plaintiff was the executive director and one of the coaches of
a soccer club located in San Diego County known as the Manchester Soccer Club (the
club), which plaintiff alleges he founded years before. Plaintiff and defendant had known
each other for about 30 years when, in or about 2000-2001, defendant joined the club as
both a coach and its director of coaching.
In 2013, plaintiff heard from various third parties that defendant was seeking
employment with another local soccer club and was recruiting other club coaches to join
him at his new prospective club. Plaintiff's defamation action against defendant arose out
Cal.App.4th 1563, 1568.) SLAPP is an acronym for " 'strategic lawsuit against public
participation.' " (Jarrow Formulas, Inc. v. LaMarche (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 728, 732, fn. 1.)
2 We note defendant's anti-SLAPP motion stated he was moving to strike plaintiff's
"complaint" and "all causes of action contained therein." However, we note the trial
court in its order denying that motion did so only on plaintiff's defamation cause of
action. In light of our decision in this case, we need not decide in this appeal whether the
remaining causes of action in plaintiff's complaint are derivative of the defamation cause
of action. (See Lee v. Fick (2005) 135 Cal. App. 4th 89, 98 [concluding slander and
interference claims were derivative of libel claim and thus were also subject to the anti-
SLAPP statute].) We note, however, that in his moving papers filed in this court,
defendant focused exclusively on his defamation cause of action and/or the defenses
thereto, without regard to any of the other five causes of action in plaintiff's complaint.
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of statements published by defendant "prior to, on or about October 17, 2013 and after"
concerning plaintiff. In particular, the complaint alleges on that date defendant sent an
email to four other coaches of the club containing myriad defamatory statements
regarding plaintiff.
The email was attached as an exhibit to the complaint. The "subject line" of the
email prepared by defendant stated, "Moving forward together." The first line of the
email stated, "Hi guys, I know I have spoken to you all regarding next season, Warren
[Barton, another club coach] has also followed up with conversations with you also I
believe. This is a follow up email to keep you appraised [sic] of what is happening at
present and what the immediate future can hold as we move forward together."
Defendant in his email further stated that he had "been offered the position of
[d]irector of [b]oys at [a new club the] Sharks"; that Warren was "technical [d]irector" of
the Sharks; that the opportunity at the Sharks was "a really good one, for both Warren
and I, and of course you guys"; that the "Sharks have been around for a long time, they
used to be a major soccer force, with a great boys and girls program," but that "they have
had a gradual decline in recent years, especially on the boys['] side"; and that "[h]aving
said that, they [i.e., the Sharks] have real ambition, a good leader . . . , some visionary
board members, a great infrastructure, a huge rec program (2000+ kids), security of
money in the bank, a plan to buy fields in the community, a fund for renting local high
school fields, a real office, 3 full time admin personnel, a great tournament, a fundraising
committee for field purchase, a great affiliation with Adidas, a great tryout set up, a
college coordinator and an online college program free to all players, generally many
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things that [the club] just cannot achieve to help fast track the club to where it needs to
be."
Defendant in the email then goes on to discuss why he is leaving the club. After
referring to plaintiff as his "partner," defendant noted that he lacked "trust" and "respect"
for plaintiff as plaintiff allegedly continued to benefit from defendant's "hard work" in
running the club. Defendant also stated his reputation had been tarnished by plaintiff as a
result of plaintiff's "idiotic, unprofessional, egotistical, unethical, greedy ways," and
noted he already felt "better" for stating in the email that he was moving on without
plaintiff.
Defendant also stated in the email that the four coaches of the club would be
"better away from [plaintiff]" as a result of plaintiff's "seriously inappropriate 'dealings,' "
which reflected poorly on the club; that it was defendant's reputation as a player for the
"real" Manchester United Club in England that "helped the club thrive"; and that if given
the chance, plaintiff would merely " 'pimp' the club to bleed it dry of money for
[plaintiff's] own benefit." Defendant stated he was telling the four coaches these things
"because [plaintiff] will be trying to take the kids from your teams with him"; plaintiff
will "lie to them, bad mouth you and me, denigrate you as a coach and person, denigrate
the Sharks['] program, and go all out to promote himself [and two other club coaches] as
the greatest thing out there . . . . You should have your own ammunition ready, promote
yourself and your worth, and you can tell your parents and kids of the great opportunity
that is available at the Sharks, using the info I mentioned earlier [in the email]."
The email then goes into more detail regarding why it was important for the
coaches to move their team from the club to the Sharks: "In year one (2014) it is
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essential that we can bring our teams with us, or at least a majority of the team. [¶] For
obvious reasons, they need to be able to encompass us into their budget by using our
teams/players as the initial financial support for our salaries. [¶] Understandable in
every respect. [¶] If teams need 'fillers' to make the team fly then obviously there will be
that opportunity. There will also be opportunities for additional teams should they
present themselves. And additional earning potential, through camps, clinics and other
programs. [¶] . . . [¶] You can begin to get the message out to your teams/parents. Be
excited by the prospect, I truly am, they will feed off your excitement."
Defendant then discussed the opportunities, or lack thereof, that would be
available to the club coaches if they stayed or went with plaintiff, who according to
defendant was then either trying to buy defendant out or was seeking to make his own
move to another local soccer club. Defendant stated that the "Sharks opportunity" was
"by far a better home for a stable, secure, ambitious future for all our players"; that the
four coaches should ask their players' parents to give each of them "one year" to prove
that moving to the Sharks was the "correct move"; and that "[g]oing with [plaintiff
would] be a pure gamble in every way," as plaintiff was "poison" and was "financial[ly]
dishonest[]."
The email concluded by noting that the "plan" was to finish "this year as normal";
that defendant was planning an "invitational (bring a friend event) in December for all
teams"; and that defendant was thankful to the four coaches for their "support" and
"loyalty," which was "worth everything" to defendant.
Plaintiff in his complaint alleged that as a result of the email, the club by January
2014 "had lost all but five of its teams and almost all of the players and coaches moved
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from [the club] with [d]efendant or to a different soccer club. As a result, [the club] was
forced to cease operations, with [p]laintiff then searching for alternate employment."
As relevant here, plaintiff in his defamation action alleged that defendant made the
defamatory statements in the email, including accusing plaintiff of "financial dishonesty,"
as "justification" for defendant's decision to leave the club and to recruit the club coaches
also to leave the club and take their players and teams with them to the Sharks, where
they would all be better off. Plaintiff further alleged that defendant knowingly and
purposely published these defamatory statements, which defendant knew were false, with
the intent to cause plaintiff harm; that such defamatory statements caused plaintiff harm
in his "business, trade, profession and occupation as they directly related to [plaintiff's]
ability, integrity and honesty in his role as the [e]xecutive [d]irector of the [club]"; and
that as a result of such statements, plaintiff suffered monetary loss and harm to his
reputation and was entitled to punitive damages.
B. The Anti-SLAPP Motion
As relevant in this appeal, defendant in his anti-SLAPP motion argued plaintiff's
action was "based entirely on statements contained in [the] email . . . ." Defendant
argued the anti-SLAPP statute applied because the statements in the email involved a
communication made in connection with the " 'public interest.' " Defendant further
argued the email to the four other coaches "bore on [the] dishonest acts" of plaintiff that
allegedly "jeopardized the continuing viability of an organization responsible for the
correct training and safety of children, a clear matter of public interest" within the
meaning of the law. Because plaintiff could not show a probability of prevailing on his
defamation cause of action, including because the statements in the email were
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privileged, allegedly constituted nonactionable opinions and were in any event, allegedly
true, defendant argued the court should grant his motion.
Defendant filed a declaration in support of his anti-SLAPP motion. In his
declaration, defendant stated under penalty of perjury he sent the email "to only four
people all of whom were coaches with the [c]lub and affiliated with the [c]lub." He did
so because he "wanted to explain why [he] was exploring other options outside the [c]lub
and to see if [he] could depend on their support in the litigation [he] feared would
follow." Significantly, defendant also stated the "things" he said in the email "were
private and [he] did not expect that they would be shared with anyone . . . ." Ultimately,
defendant stated he was able to negotiate a " '[s]eparation [a]greement' " with the club,
which he included as an exhibit to his declaration.
In opposing defendant's anti-SLAPP motion, plaintiff argued the purpose of the
email was not to help the club or its players because otherwise defendant would not have
stated in the email his plan was to play out the year as "normal." In addition, if the email
was to help the club, plaintiff argued defendant would not have attempted to convince the
four coaches to leave the club and join defendant's new club, the Sharks, which clearly
would hurt the club. Thus, plaintiff argued defendant's purpose in sending the email was
to benefit defendant's "personal and financial interests" with respect to defendant's move
to the Sharks.
Plaintiff in support of his opposition submitted his own declaration and the
declarations of Robert Turner and Denis Sweeney. Plaintiff also submitted evidentiary
objections to defendant's declaration filed in support of defendant's anti-SLAPP motion.
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Defendant on or about June 26, 2014 replied to plaintiff's opposition. Defendant's
reply included rebuttal declarations from defendant, Darrell Johnson and Andrew Forth,
as well as evidentiary objections to the three declarations plaintiff filed in support of his
opposition.3 The record shows the court ruled on plaintiff's evidentiary objections but
not on defendant's evidentiary objections. In addition, the record shows plaintiff did not
object to any of the evidence included by defendant in the rebuttal declarations.4
C. Ruling on the Anti-SLAPP Motion
In its order denying the motion, the court ruled defendant had made a sufficient
showing that plaintiff's defamation action arose from conduct of defendant in furtherance
of the exercise of his right to petition/free speech in connection with an issue of public
interest, as provided in subdivision (e)(4) of section 425.16. The court nonetheless found
plaintiff satisfied his burden to show a probability of prevailing on the merits of his
defamation action.
3 According to defendant, on the same day he filed his reply, the court issued its
tentative order denying his anti-SLAPP motion. At the hearing on the motion, however,
the court stated it published its tentative on June 30, 2014 and had in fact reviewed
defendant's reply.
4 One possible explanation for the court's failure to rule on defendant's evidentiary
objections was the fact it possibly issued its tentative order on the same day defendant
filed his reply, as defendant argued at the hearing on the motion and as he maintains in
his brief filed with this court. We note, however, that defendant at the July 3, 2014
hearing on his anti-SLAPP motion did not address the court's failure to rule on his
evidentiary objections. Because we independently conclude defendant did not satisfy his
burden under prong one of the anti-SLAPP statute, we need not decide here whether his
failure to raise this issue at the hearing and/or the failure of the court to rule on
defendant's evidentiary objections constituted a waiver of said objections on appeal.
(Compare Reid v. Google (2010) 50 Cal. 4th 512, 526 [noting that written evidentiary
objections filed before a summary judgment hearing are not waived on appeal despite
trial court's failure to rule].)
8
In so ruling, the court found the statements in the email that plaintiff was
"financially dishonest" and "unethical and unprofessional" to be actionable and not
merely opinion. In addition, the court found defendant's contention that the email was a
privileged, prelitigation communication carried "little weight"; that both parties presented
evidence on the issue of whether plaintiff was financially dishonest; that defendant failed
to show he was "imminently concerned" about the club; and that plaintiff had proffered
evidence to make a showing of malice, inasmuch the "surrounding facts suggest
[d]efendant sent the email based upon his own financial interest in taking as many
coaches and players with him as possible."
At the hearing on defendant's anti-SLAPP motion, the court made some additional
observations when explaining its decision to deny the motion. The court noted it
"struggled" with whether defendant had satisfied his "burden on the first prong of the
motion under the SLAPP statute." In fact, the court twice noted it had "reservations
about whether the alleged statements made by the defendant[] were made in connection
with a public issue." Nonetheless, the court ultimately "err[ed]" on the side of "public
policy," which the court found required it to "broadly constru[e] the statute." In making
this finding, the court further noted the "defense got the benefit of the court's discretion."
In finding plaintiff had proffered sufficient evidence to show a probability of
prevailing on his defamation claim, the court observed:
"The court is mindful that from the defense's perspective all of the alleged
defamatory statements are purely a function of opinion and are not actionable. There
were a couple of statements that, from the court's perspective, could be considered factual
9
in nature. Maybe hybrid both factual and opinion. Ultimately, though, the trier of fact is
going to have to sort that out. . . .
"There are limits to how much I can adjudicate at this point in time. There appears
to be a question of fact as to whether the one or two statements that the court focused on
as reflected in the tentative [order] are as alleged by the defense to be purely opinion or
as alleged by the plaintiff to be purely factual. At some point in time, the trier of fact will
sort this out. [¶] . . . [¶]
"Finally, I understand the defense's argument that plaintiff will have a difficult
time showing damage but there does appear to be evidence to support the existence of the
fact of damage. How much, I don't know if anybody including the plaintiff is in a
position to say today but there does appear to be evidence of the fact of damage."
DISCUSSION
A. The Anti-SLAPP Statute and Standard of Review
Under section 425.16, subdivision (b)(1), a "cause of action against a person
arising from any act of that person in furtherance of the person's right of petition or free
speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection
with a public issue shall be subject to a motion to strike, unless the court determines that
the plaintiff has established that there is a probability that the plaintiff will prevail on the
claim."
Courts apply a two-pronged or two-step analysis when reviewing a challenge to an
anti-SLAPP motion: "First, the court decides whether the defendant has made a threshold
showing that the challenged cause of action is one arising from protected activity. The
moving defendant's burden is to demonstrate that the act or acts of which the plaintiff
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complains were taken 'in furtherance of the [defendant]'s right of petition or free speech
under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue,' as
defined in the statute. [Citation.]" (Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002)
29 Cal. 4th 53, 67 (Equilon); see Martinez v. Metabolife Internat., Inc. (2003) 113
Cal. App. 4th 181, 186.) A defendant meets its threshold burden of demonstrating that a
cause of action arises from protected activity by showing that the act or acts underlying
the claim fit one or more of the four categories described in section 426.16, subdivision
(e). (Navellier v. Sletten (2002) 29 Cal. 4th 82, 88.) These categories include, as relevant
here, a "catch-all" provision that protects "conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the
constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with
a public issue or an issue of public interest." (§ 425.16, subd. (e)(4).)
" ' "A plaintiff cannot frustrate the purposes of the SLAPP statute through a
pleading tactic of combining allegations of protected and nonprotected activity under the
label of one 'cause of action.' " [Citation.] Conversely, a defendant in an ordinary private
dispute cannot take advantage of the anti-SLAPP statute simply because the complaint
contains some references to speech or petitioning activity by the defendant. [Citation.]
[Thus,] it is the principal thrust or gravamen of the plaintiff's cause of action that
determines whether the anti-SLAPP statute applies [citation], and when the allegations
referring to arguably protected activity are only incidental to a cause of action based
essentially on nonprotected activity, collateral allusions to protected activity should not
subject the cause of action to the anti-SLAPP statute.' [Citation.]" (Raining Data Corp.
v. Barrenechea (2009) 175 Cal. App. 4th 1363, 1369; see Young v. Tri-City Healthcare
Dist. (2012) 210 Cal. App. 4th 35, 55.)
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With respect to the second prong of the anti-SLAPP analysis, which we note is
reached only if the defendant satisfies the first prong of that statute, the court then
considers whether the plaintiff has met the burden of establishing a probability of
prevailing on the claim(s) subject to the anti-SLAPP statute. (See § 425.16, subd. (b)(1);
see also Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 67.) To satisfy the second step, the plaintiff
must submit admissible evidence and make a prima facie showing of facts that would
support a judgment in the plaintiff's favor if proved at trial. (Monterey Plaza Hotel v.
Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees (1999) 69 Cal. App. 4th 1057, 1064
(Monterey).) The court in making the probability of prevailing determination should
consider the pleadings and the supporting and opposing affidavits stating the facts on
which liability is based. (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(2); Monterey, at p. 1064.)
We review independently whether a defendant showed a claim arose from
protected activity within the meaning of the anti-SLAPP statute and, if so, whether the
plaintiff showed a probability of prevailing on that claim. (Wilcox v. Superior Court
(1994) 27 Cal. App. 4th 809, 823-824 (Wilcox), disapproved on another ground as stated in
Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 68, fn. 5.)
B. Subdivision (e)(4) of Section 425.16 and Analysis
The anti-SLAPP statute does not define " 'an issue of public interest' " within the
meaning of subdivision (e)(4) of section 425.16, and "it is doubtful an all-encompassing
definition could be provided." (Weinberg v. Feisel (2003) 110 Cal. App. 4th 1122, 1132
(Weinberg).) To qualify for protection under subdivision (e)(4) of section 425.16, the
issue must be one of concern to a substantial number of people, not merely a private
controversy of interest to the speaker and a relatively small, specific audience.
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(Weinberg, at p. 1132.) At the same time, the issue must not be one of broad, amorphous
public interest, but rather one identifiable in time and place, and the challenged
statements must bear a significant relationship to the asserted public issue. (Id. at pp.
1132–1133.)
A public issue has been found where statements "concerned a person or entity in
the public eye [citations], conduct that could directly affect a large number of people
beyond the direct participants [citations] or a topic of widespread, public interest
[citations]." (Rivero v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL–CIO (2003) 105 Cal. App. 4th 913, 924 (Rivero); accord, Jewett v. Capital One Bank
(2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 805, 814 [noting "[a] public issue is implicated if the subject of
the statement or activity underlying the claim (1) was a person or entity in the public eye;
(2) could affect large numbers of people beyond the direct participants; or (3) involved a
topic of widespread, public interest"].)
However, where the issue is of interest only to a limited but definable portion of
the public such as a private group, organization, or community, "the constitutionally
protected activity must, at a minimum, occur in the context of an ongoing controversy,
dispute or discussion, such that it warrants protection by a statute that embodies the
public policy of encouraging participation in matters of public significance." (Du
Charme v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2003) 110 Cal. App. 4th 107,
119, fn. omitted.)
In Rivero, the court concluded the statements made by a union in documents
distributed to union members concerning a supervisor's alleged mistreatment of his eight-
person staff of custodians was "hardly a matter of public interest." (Rivero, supra, 105
13
Cal.App.4th at p. 924.) The court noted that the supervisor previously received no public
attention or media coverage, and the only individuals affected by the situation were the
supervisor and his eight employees. (Id. at p. 924.) The union argued that any time a
person criticizes an unlawful workplace activity, the statements concern a public issue.
The court understandably rejected this argument, observing that if this were correct,
"nearly every workplace dispute would qualify as a matter of public interest" and that
"unlawful workplace activity below some threshold level of significance is not an issue of
public interest, even though it implicates a public policy." (Ibid.)
In Weinberg, both the plaintiff and the defendant were token collectors and were
members of a national association of about 700 token collectors. Both parties were also
members of local token associations, and defendant was an officer in both the local and
national associations. The defendant accused the plaintiff of stealing tokens at a token
show, including some belonging to the defendant, and published such statements in a
newsletter and letters sent to fellow token collectors. (Weinberg, supra, 110 Cal.App.4th
at pp. 1127-1128.) The statements included calling plaintiff, a retired police officer, a
"thief and chronic liar." (Id. at p. 1129.) The defendant also contacted a police officer
and told the officer the plaintiff had a violent temper, people would fear for their lives if
the plaintiff attended an upcoming token show, and the plaintiff had been stealing at
several shows. (Id. at p. 1129.) In response to the plaintiff's complaint for defamation
among other causes of action, the defendant filed an anti-SLAPP motion.
The court in Weinberg rejected the defendant's contention that the causes of action
against him arose as a result of an issue of public interest within the meaning of
subdivision (e)(4) of section 425.16, namely the defendant's warning others of the
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plaintiff's suspected criminal activity. (Weinberg, supra, 110 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1126-
1127.) In so doing, the court in Weinberg articulated "[a] few guiding principles . . .
derived from decisional authorities" that we find helpful in our discussion here: "First,
'public interest' does not equate with mere curiosity. [Citations.] Second, a matter of
public interest should be something of concern to a substantial number of people.
[Citation.] Thus, a matter of concern to the speaker and a relatively small, specific
audience is not a matter of public interest. [Citations.] Third, there should be some
degree of closeness between the challenged statements and the asserted public interest
[citation]; the assertion of a broad and amorphous public interest is not sufficient
[citation]. Fourth, the focus of the speaker's conduct should be the public interest rather
than a mere effort 'to gather ammunition for another round of [private] controversy . . . .'
[Citation.] Finally, 'those charged with defamation cannot, by their own conduct, create
their own defense by making the claimant a public figure.' [Citation.] A person cannot
turn otherwise private information into a matter of public interest simply by
communicating it to a large number of people. [Citations.]" (Id. at pp. 1132–1133.)
Relying in part on Rivero, the court in Weinberg concluded the defendant "failed
to demonstrate that his dispute with plaintiff was anything other than a private dispute
between private parties. The fact that defendant allegedly was able to vilify plaintiff in
the eyes of at least some people establishes only that he was at least partially successful
in his campaign of vilification; it does not establish that he was acting on a matter of
public interest." (Weinberg, supra, 110 Cal.App.4th at p. 1134.)
Here, like the statements at issue in Rivero and Weinberg, the statements made by
defendant in the email to four other club coaches concerning plaintiff did not concern a
15
matter of public interest within the meaning of subdivision (e)(4) of section 425.16.
First, there is no evidence, nor does defendant assert, that plaintiff was a figure in the
public eye. That plaintiff allegedly founded the club, coached there and was the club's
executive director does not show or establish that he positioned himself at "the forefront
of a particular public controversy in order to influence the resolution of the issues
involved." (See Weinberg, supra, 110 Cal.App.4th at p. 1131.)
Second, the email, which defendant admitted was a private matter that he believed
would be kept confidential, clearly affected only a small group—a few of the club's
coaches. The fact they coached youth soccer players does not make what is a private
controversy between private individuals into a public issue. That players and their
parents as mere observers might find the dispute between plaintiff and defendant
interesting, or might base their family's decision on which soccer club to join as a result
of that dispute, does not turn the matter into a public issue. (See Weinberg, supra, 110
Cal.App.4th at p. 1132 [noting that " 'public interest' does not equate with mere
curiosity"].)
Third, looking at the thrust or gravamen of plaintiff's defamation action, the focus
of defendant's conduct as set forth in the email was not the public interest in the well-
being or welfare of the club or its players. Indeed, at the time defendant wrote the email,
he and another coach already had decided to leave the club for greener pastures. Rather,
the alleged defamatory statements about plaintiff, when considered in context, suggest
they were made by defendant in an attempt to recruit the other three5 coaches to also
5 We say "three" here because although the email went to four club coaches, one of
those coaches, Warren Barton, already had accepted a new position with the Sharks.
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leave the club and join a rival soccer club, where defendant promised they would all be
better off.
The subject line of the email, which stated, "Moving forward together," supports
this conclusion. So too does the content of the email, including when defendant
suggested that the coaches should have their own "ammunition ready" to counter what
defendant stated would be plaintiff's "lie[s]," "bad[-]mouth[ing]" and "denigrat[ing]" of
them; that they should be prepared to "promote" themselves to the "parents and kids of
the great opportunity that is available at the Sharks"; and that they should be "excited"
about joining the Sharks as their "teams/parents" will "feed off [their] excitement."
Defendant nonetheless contends that plaintiff's failure to appeal the court's finding
that defendant met his burden under prong one means that issue is no longer in dispute in
this appeal. We disagree. For one thing, plaintiff could not appeal a finding under the
circumstances of this case where the court ultimately denied defendant's anti-SLAPP
motion after ruling plaintiff proffered sufficient admissible evidence to satisfy his
"minimal" burden under section 425.16 to show a probability of prevailing on his
defamation action. (See Soukup v. Law Offices of Herbert Hafif (2006) 39 Cal. 4th 260,
291.) For another thing, as noted we apply a de novo standard of review on the issue of
whether defendant satisfied his burden under prong one of the anti-SLAPP statute. (See
Wilcox, supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at pp. 823-824.)
We also reject defendant's contention that the case of Hecimovich v. Encinal
School Parent Teacher Organization (2012) 203 Cal. App. 4th 450 (Hecimovich) is
"dispositive" of the issue in this case. There, the court reversed the order denying the
defendants' anti-SLAPP motion to the 20-page complaint alleging eight causes of action
17
brought by a volunteer coach (by profession, an attorney) of a fourth grade basketball
team in an after school program. Based on the declarations of the parties, including
plaintiff's and on plaintiff's verified complaint, the court in Hecimovich concluded the
conduct on which the eight causes of action were based—plaintiff's fitness to coach
young players—involved an issue of public interest, namely the "safety of children in
sports." (Id. at p. 467.)
To support its conclusion, the court in Hecimovich relied on Terry v. Davis
Community Church (2005) 131 Cal. App. 4th 1534 (Terry), where the essence of the
plaintiff's complaint was he was falsely accused of having an inappropriate sexual
relationship with a minor female in his work as a church youth group leader. In response
to complaints of parents, the church in Terry investigated the plaintiff and prepared a
confidential report on the matter. The report was then shown, but not distributed, to
about 100 interested people, who understandably were concerned about their own
children and had sought this information from the church. (Id. at p. 1543.)
In response to the plaintiff's lawsuit alleging among other causes of action
defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the church, the church's pastor
and church leaders filed an anti-SLAPP motion. In affirming the court's grant of that
motion, the Terry court concluded the communications at issue in plaintiff's complaint
involved a public issue, namely the protection of children from predators. (Terry, supra,
131 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1538-1539.) The Terry court rejected the plaintiff's contention
that the case merely involved the "private relationship" between plaintiff and the girl:
"The issue as to whether or not an adult who interacts with minors in a church youth
program has engaged in an inappropriate relationship with any of the minors is clearly a
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matter of public interest. The public interest is society's interest in protecting minors
from predators, particularly in places such as church programs that are supposed to be
safe. It need not be proved that a particular adult is in actuality a sexual predator in order
for the matter to be a legitimate subject of discussion." (Id. at p. 1547.)
In contrast to the conduct at issue in Hecimovich and Terry, which involved
protected activity regarding the safety and protection of children, here, as we have noted,
the email by defendant (on which plaintiff's defamation action was primarily based) was
the culmination of a dispute between business "partners" who, for more than a decade,
successfully ran the club. Ultimately, that relationship soured for a variety of reasons.
Defendant and another club coach in response decided to leave the club. Before doing
so, defendant sent the email in an effort to recruit three other coaches to join them in
moving to the rival club. The statements in the email, when viewed in this context, did
not involve the safety and protection of the club or the club's players, but instead were the
result of a private business relationship that was on the verge of breaking up. We thus
discern no "public issue or an issue of public interest" within the meaning of subdivision
(e)(4) of section 425.16 with respect to the contents of the email sent by defendant. (See
City of Cotati v. Cashman (2002) 29 Cal. 4th 69, 76–77 [noting the fact that protected
activity may have triggered a cause of action does not necessarily mean the cause of
action arose from the protected activity].)6
6 As a result of our decision, we deem it unnecessary to address defendant's
remaining contentions including that the court allegedly erred when it found plaintiff
established under prong two a probability of prevailing on his defamation action.
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DISPOSITION
The court's order denying defendant's anti-SLAPP motion is affirmed because
defendant has failed to satisfy his burden under prong one of section 425.16, subdivision
(b)(1) to show plaintiff's defamation action arose from protected activity. Plaintiff to
recover his costs of appeal.
BENKE, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
HALLER, J.
IRION, J.
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