Young

Petitioner and appellant John Young, M.D., brought these proceedings for a writ of administrative mandate to challenge the decision of the board of directors of respondent Tri-City Healthcare District (the Board or the District) to terminate his medical staff privileges at its hospital. (Code Civ. *40 Proc., § 1094.5; all statutory references are to this code unless noted.) Young’s amended petition contains seven causes of action that challenge both the March 29, 2009 final decision of termination (the termination decision) and an earlier, “interlocked” December 18, 2008 summary suspension (the summary suspension). Regarding each, Young sought judicial review of the administrative record and an order entitling him to reinstatement and costs of suit.

Young’s appeal arises from the trial court’s ruling, ultimately issued after three hard-fought phases of reconsideration motion hearings and other procedural developments, to grant the District!1 s special motion to strike the fifth cause of action, which specifically challenged Young’s cause of action for relief from the summary suspension. (§ 425.16; the anti-SLAPP statute.) The District contended in its motion that any of…