Kyle

INTRODUCTION

Rocky Gentner has appealed from an order striking three causes of action from his cross-complaint against respondents Brian Kyle, Bobbie Griffith, and Cindy 1 Atkinson under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16, the anti-SLAPP statute. The dispute involves a piece of property they own through a limited liability company, Bay City Partners, LLC (Bay City). The City of Seal Beach (the City) had its eye on part of the property for an access road and sewer maintenance area. Both sides filed lawsuits, which were settled after the City agreed, among other things, to pay Bay City $1.1 million out of redevelopment agency funds for part of the property and to try to convince the city council to approve permits for 48 residential lots on the rest of it. As it turned out, the City lost its redevelopment agency funds, and its planning commission recommended permits for 32 lots instead of 48. At a meeting with City representatives in June 2011, the Bay City member in attendance was told, in no uncertain terms, that unless the company waived the $1.1 million payment, the City would not approve permits for the proposed residential development. Faced with this choice, the Bay City…