Donn

INTRODUCTION

Amada Donn sued her one-time friend Okwii Agbo for malicious prosecution after a jury acquitted Donn of criminal charges based on a complaint by Agbo. The trial court granted Agbo’s special motion to strike under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 and dismissed the action.1 We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Donn and Agbo are members of a charitable organization called the Odinamba Cultural Association. The organization holds meetings every other month. In 2010 Donn was the president of the organization and Agbo was Donn’s “personal and close friend.” After they had “a falling out over [a] personal matter,” however, Agbo became involved in efforts to remove Donn as the president based on charges Donn had misappropriated organization funds. In July 2010 the members of the organization met to discuss, among other things, the accusations against Donn. According to Agbo, Donn “became highly agitated, approached [her] from behind, grabbed [her] shoulder and forced [her] back in an attempt to grab the petition regarding her embezzlement,” and then with the assistance of another member “physically assaulted and menaced” her. According to Donn, the meeting…