CoreCivic Inc v. Candide Group LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CORECIVIC INC, Plaintiff, No. C–20–03792–WHA

v.

CANDIDE GROUP LLC, et al., ORDER GRANTING ATTORNEY’S

FEES BUT HOLDING IN

Defendants.

ABEYANCE FINAL CALCULATION

15 This is a defense motion for attorney’s fees under California’s anti-SLAPP statute after 16 the complaint for defamation lost at the pleading stage. The main issue is the extent to which, 17 if at all, a state provision on attorney’s fees should be honored rather than following the 18 different standards required by Rule 11. 19 Plaintiff CoreCivic Inc. runs private prisons and detention centers. Its role in detaining 20 immigrants drew public criticism from defendant Morgan Simon and her Candide Group LLC, 21 a firm that promotes socially-responsible investing. As a senior contributor to Forbes 22 magazine, she published online content praising banks that cut ties with private prison 23 operators. Mixing reporting, advocacy, and self-promotion, her articles focused on the role of 24 activist groups, like the…