Dawodu

I.

INTRODUCTION

Toyin Dawodu appeals the trial court’s order striking his complaint as a strategic

lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) under the anti-SLAPP statute, Code of Civil

Procedure section 425.16 (section 425.16). We affirm.

II.

1

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Dawodu owns Guaranty Investment Company, Inc. (GIC). He alleges that GIC

bought a property in Cathedral City, where Nicole Pisciuneri was living at the time.

According to Dawodu, Pisciuneri agreed to rent the property but never paid any rent, so

GIC filed an unlawful detainer action against her (the UD action).

Pisciuneri received legal assistance from the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers

Association, Inc. (IELLA) and one of its attorneys, Gene Arthur Meneses, as well as

IELLA’s Executive Director, Sylvia Quistorf. Meneses represented Pisciuneri in the UD

action and successfully obtained judgment in her favor.

Pisciuneri later filed a lawsuit to quiet title to the property. She alleged that she

had lived at the property for 23 years and her deceased mother had gifted her the

1 The factual summary is drawn from Dawodu’s operative complaint and the parties’ evidence submitted in connection…