California Court of Appeal

Widders v. Furchtenicht, B196583

In an election matter concerning two ballot initiatives submitted by defendant relating to chain stores and affordable housing, grant of defendant's demurrer is reversed, defendant's anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) motion is denied, and the trial court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff-city attorney where: 1) the action was timely filed; and 2) the action did not qualify as a SLAPP suit because plaintiff demonstrated that he was entitled to judgment in his favor as a matter of law.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/20/2008
• Published 10/20/2008

Judges

• PERREN, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Schneider, Katherine E. Stone, Ventura, J. Roger Myers and Nancy D. Hartzler, El Monte, for Appellant Widders., ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Peter J. Eliasberg, Los Angeles;  Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp and Michael E. Chait, Los Angeles, for Appellant Furchtenicht., Kirkland & Ellis, Robyn Bladow, Pantea Yashar, Shaun Paisley, Los Angeles, for Initiative & Referendum Institute as Amici Curiae on behalf of Appellant Furchtenicht.