Colt

Joanne Colt and Douglas Colt sued Freedom Communications, Inc., and Freedom Newspapers, Inc., for libel, invasion of privacy, interference with contractual relations, and interference with prospective economic advantage. The purported causes of action are based on articles published in the Colorado Springs Gazette, a newspaper owned by the defendants, and on an affiliated Web site. We affirm an order striking the complaint under the anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) statute. (Code Civ. Proc., §425.16; unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to this code.) We so hold because plaintiffs failed to establish “that there is a probability that [they] will prevail on the claim.” (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1).)

Facts

According to allegations in a complaint filed against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Douglas Colt “carried out an illegal scheme to manipulate the price of four stocks” during a two-month period in 1999 by “using a free subscription internet website called ‘Fast-Trades.com.’ ffl] . . . Through this scheme, centered on recommending stocks, Colt drove up the short-term price for each stock by as much…