NAMA Holdings v. Dorsey & Whitney CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff and appellant NAMA Holdings, LLC (NAMA) sought permission, pursuant to Civil Code section 1714.10 (section 1714.10), to file a complaint against defendant law firm, Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Dorsey), for accepting funds from a client against whom NAMA had a substantial judgment. NAMA alleged Dorsey was guilty of fraudulent transfer of funds and conversion. Dorsey filed opposition and also filed a special motion to strike pursuant to the anti-SLAPP statute, Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 (section 425.16). The trial court refused permission to file the complaint under section 1714.10, granted the anti-SLAPP motion, and sanctioned NAMA and/or its counsel (appellants Ronald P. Slates, P.C., Ronald P. Slates, J. Steven Bingman, and Johnny Kim) under Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7. NAMA and its counsel appeal from the trial court’s orders. Because we conclude that NAMA’s complaint related to protected activity and NAMA failed to demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on the merits, we affirm the order granting the anti-SLAPP motion and striking the complaint. That order being dispositive, we do not find it necessary to consider the order pursuant to…