Drum

INTRODUCTION

We hold that a voluntary bar association did not engage in an unfair business practice in violation of the California unfair competition law (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200 et seq.) 1 (UCL) when, allegedly, it unilaterally refused to sell its membership mailing list to a person who intended to offer low-priced mediation services in competition with higher priced mediation services offered by some of the association’s members. We therefore affirm the judgment of dismissal, entered after the trial court sustained the association’s demurrer.

*251 BACKGROUND

Plaintiff and appellant Joel Drum (plaintiff) alleged that he was a disbarred attorney who intended to offer his services as a mediator at relatively low prices. He wished to solicit members of defendant and respondent San Fernando Valley Bar Association (Association), a voluntary bar association, to engage his mediation services. Plaintiff attempted to purchase from the Association its membership mailing list, which the Association sells to businesses that offer products or services of interest to its members. The Association refused to sell the list to plaintiff, ostensibly on the ground that plaintiff had…