Jerk Plaintiffs Make Bad SLAPP Law

Finton Constr., Inc. v. Bidna & Keys, APLC, No. G050093 (Jun. 29, 2015)

This case is an offshoot of a very ugly-looking partnership litigation pending in LA Superior Court.  The gist of this matter is that a departing partner allegedly copied a bunch of files onto a hard drive, which he later turned over to his lawyers. The lawyers disclosed this fact to their opponents and the court in the LA case. Discovery issues regarding the handling and production of the files on the hard drive are being actively litigated in the LA case. The trial court appears to be making rulings to the effect that the drives don’t need to be unilaterally returned, and that that the documents on it are relevant and discoverable in the litigation. It has entered some orders attempting to work out a protocol to preserve and produce the documents, while ensuring that they aren’t misused. Seems reasonable.