Mendoza

Defendant Reed K. Hamzeh appeals from an order denying his anti-SLAPP motion and requiring him to pay plaintiff’s attorney fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

In May 2011, plaintiff Miguel Mendoza filed this action against Attorney Reed Hamzeh, asserting causes of action for civil extortion, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices. The lawsuit arises from a May 6, 2009 letter (the demand letter) Hamzeh sent to Mendoza while Hamzeh was representing a client named Guy Chow regarding a dispute between Chow and Mendoza. The dispute concerned Mendoza’s employment as the manager of Chow’s print and copy business.

The demand letter from Hamzeh to Mendoza begins: “As you are aware, I have been retained to represent Media Print & Copy (‘Media’). We are in the process of uncovering the substantial fraud, conversion and breaches of contract that your client has committed on my client. ... To date we have uncovered damages exceeding $75,000, not including interest applied thereto, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. If your client does not agree to cooperate with our investigation and provide us with a…