Jacobsen

INTRODUCTION

Lynette Jacobson (Jacobson) is a third grade teacher at Ocotillo Elementary School in the Palmdale School District (District). Roger Gallizzi (Gallizzi) is the Superintendent of the District. At a public meeting of District‟s Board of Trustees (Board), Jacobson spoke (as did three other individuals) against a proposed change to District‟s field trip policy. Three months later at the beginning of the school year, Gallizzi delivered a “Welcome Back” message to District‟s teachers, staff, students and parents in which he expounded upon the theme that an educator‟s primary responsibility is to create a learning environment for the students. In that context, Gallizzi referred to four incidents in which he believed teachers had acted unprofessionally. He gave, as one example, Jacobson‟s remarks from Board‟s public meeting, comparing her attitude to that held by Scar, a character in “The Lion King.” Jacobson sued Gallizzi and District (collectively defendants), alleging that Gallizzi‟s remarks were, among other things, defamatory. Defendants moved to strike Jacobson‟s complaint pursuant to section 425.16.1 Their anti-SLAPP motion2 urged that the gravamen of Jacobson‟s…