Passman

Two attorneys representing one party in litigation brought a defamation action against the opposing party based on statements he made in letters to his counsel and to the district attorney. The trial court found the alleged defamatory statements absolutely privileged and dismissed the attorneys’ complaint after sustaining defendant’s demurrer without leave to amend. We affirm.

Facts and Proceedings Below

Defendant and respondent, Joseph Torkan, and Iraj Kermanshahchi (Iraj) were stockholders in a corporation which operated a parking lot near the Los Angeles International Airport. On August 14, 1990, Torkan brought suit against Iraj for dissolution of the corporation and for appointment of a receiver. Torkan claimed Iraj fraudulently failed to report and account for the corporation’s gross receipts. This action was ordered consolidated with an action Iraj and the corporation had brought against Torkan.

After the trial court determined Torkan held a 20 percent stock ownership interest in the corporation, Iraj elected in lieu of dissolution to purchase Torkan’s interest (Corp. Code, § 2000, subd. (a)). The trial court appointed three appraisers when Iraj and Torkan could…