Pullen

BACKGROUND

In January 2012, appellant filed the instant complaint against his former wife, Shelley Culloty, and her former counsel, Michelle Woodruff and Divorce Legal Services.1 The complaint, filed in propria persona, alleged three causes of action: violation of civil rights, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and exemplary damages. The complaint set forth a number of allegations about respondents’ conduct in post-judgment dissolution proceedings involving the resolution of a community debt (hereafter referred to as the dissolution proceedings). Specifically, the complaint alleged respondents engaged in forgery, perjury, and subornation of perjury in connection with documents and other communications in the dissolution proceeding.

1 We refer to Woodruff and Divorce Legal Services collectively as Woodruff.

1 Respondents filed an anti-SLAPP motion to strike all three causes of action.2 Appellant did not file a written opposition. Instead, shortly before the hearing on the anti-SLAPP motion, appellant filed three ex parte motions: to open limited discovery, to disqualify Woodruff’s counsel, and to stay proceedings. After hearing oral argument on all pending motions,…