Deng

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff and respondent Hui Duan Jenny Deng (Deng) sued Jimmy Loh (Loh); his company APC; Su Liu (Liu); and Peter S. Hwu (defendant and appellant) (collectively defendants) in connection with the termination of her employment by APC1 and for defamation. Hwu filed a special motion to strike under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.162 (anti-SLAPP statute), which motion was denied. Hwu appeals from that denial. We affirm the order of the trial court.

BACKGROUND

After defendants dismissed their action against Deng for unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets, and conversion, on December 21, 2012, Deng filed an action against defendants for her termination from APC because of her medical condition; her request for medical leave; age discrimination; and harassment. She alleged violations of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code, § 12900 et seq.) for discrimination and failure to prevent harassment. She also alleged that defendants had defamed her and violated the Labor Code section 1054 by falsely informing customers and others that she had been fired from APC because of theft or other illegal conduct and that she was retired, in the…