Yeager
Yeager v. Holt
Opinion
lead Opinion
Duarte, J.
*452 Defendants Peter Holt, Holt Law Firm, and Bethany Holt (collectively Holt, except as noted) appeal from an order denying their special motion to strike (also known as an anti-SLAPP-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation-motion). 1 Peter Holt and his law firm briefly represented Charles E. and Victoria Yeager (collectively Yeager, except as noted)
*453 and successfully sued Victoria Yeager to obtain his fees in an action known as Holt v. Yeager (Super. Ct. Nevada County, No. L76533). 2 Yeager then sued Holt, alleging professional negligence, misappropriation of name, and other claims. Holt moved to declare Yeager's suit to be a SLAPP suit. The trial court found this suit does not chill protected expressive conduct or free speech on an issue of public interest. We agree and affirm. 3
*695 BACKGROUND
The Yeagers are represented on appeal, but were self-represented in the trial court.
The Operative Complaint
The first amended complaint generally alleged that both Peter and Bethany Holt worked together at the Holt Law Firm in some capacity and that all three defendants were responsible for all of the actions and damages alleged.