Appel

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 HOWARD APPEL, Case No.: 3:18-cv-814-L-BGS

Plaintiff,

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S

v. SPECIAL MOTION TO STRIKE [Doc. 5] ROBERT S. WOLF, Defendant. 13 Pending before the Court is the Special Motion to Strike filed under California’s Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute by Defendant Robert S. Wolf (“Defendant”). See Doc. 5. The motion is fully briefed. The Court finds this motion suitable for disposition on the papers without oral argument under Civil Local Rule 7.1.d.1. For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s Anti-SLAPP motion is DENIED. I. Background In June 2017, Plaintiff Howard Appel (“Plaintiff”) registered the highest bid for certain real property in Fiji in a luxury residential real property auction. However, a dispute subsequently arose between Plaintiff, the seller of the property, and the auctioneer (Concierge). In July…