A Private Dispute on the Internet Is Not a Public Issue

Jepson v. Ley, B292166 (D2d8 Jan. 30, 2020)

This is a defamation case over a blog post related to a neighborhood dispute. One neighbor called the other, essentially, a well-armed jerk. Litigation ensued. The poster claims the case is a SLAPP. But it’s not. A private dispute between neighbors is not an issue of public interest, even if it spills out on to the Internet. So the claim does not satisfy Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16(e)(3) or (4).

FWIW, this opinion has a very solid summary of the public issue case law in the runup to, and including, the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FilmOn.

Affirmed.

Justice Cuellar's Law and Economics of Interestedness

FilmOn.com Inc. v. Doubleverify Inc., No. S244157 (Cal. May 6, 2019)

The California Supreme Court has granted review of a number of important cases dealing with Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16(e)(4)—the anti-SLAPP-statute’s “catchall” provision. This is a big one.

More HOA SLAPPs

Colyear v. Rolling Hills Cmty. Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes, No. B270396 (D2d4 Feb 28, 2017)
 
Another in a long line of cases addressing anti-SLAPP motions in HOA disputes. This one deals with a tree trimming dispute.