Signed by the Governor: October 10, 1999
Passed by the Assembly: September 9, 1999
Passed by the Senate: September 7, 1999
Amended in the Senate: July 12, 1999
Amended in the Senate: July 6, 1999
Amended in the Assembly: May 28, 1999
INTRODUCED BY Committee on Judiciary:
Kuehl (Chair), Aroner, Corbett, Hertzberg, Jackson, Longville, Shelley, and Steinberg
MARCH 16, 1999. An act to amend Sections 425.16 and 904.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil actions, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
AB 1675, Committee on Judiciary. Civil procedure. Existing law provides that a cause of action against a person arising from any act of that person in furtherance of the person’s right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue, as specified, shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court, after considering the pleadings and supporting and opposing affidavits, determines that there is a probability that the plaintiff will prevail on the claim. This bill would provide that an appeal may be taken directly from an order granting or denying such a special motion to strike to the court of appeal, as specified. The bill would also require any party who files or opposes such a special motion to strike, to promptly transmit various documents related thereto, to the Judicial Council by e-mail or fax, and would require the Judicial Council to maintain a public record of this information for at least 3 years. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 425.16 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:
425.16. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there has been a disturbing increase in lawsuits brought primarily to chill the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to encourage continued participation in matters of public significance, and that this participation should not be chilled through abuse of the judicial process. To this end, this section shall be construed broadly.
(b)(1) A cause of action against a person arising from any act of that person in furtherance of the person’s right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court determines that the plaintiff has established that there is a probability that the plaintiff will prevail on the claim.
(b)(2) In making its determination, the court shall consider the pleadings, and supporting and opposing affidavits stating the facts upon which the liability or defense is based.
(b)(3) If the court determines that the plaintiff has established a probability that he or she will prevail on the claim, neither that determination nor the fact of that determination shall be admissible in evidence at any later stage of the case, and no burden of proof or degree of proof otherwise applicable shall be affected by that determination.
(c) In any action subject to subdivision (b), a prevailing defendant on a special motion to strike shall be entitled to recover his or her attorney’s fees and costs. If the court finds that a special motion to strike is frivolous or is solely intended to cause unnecessary delay, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to a plaintiff prevailing on the motion, pursuant to Section 128.5.
(d) This section shall not apply to any enforcement action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney, acting as a public prosecutor.
(e) As used in this section, “act in furtherance ofa person’s right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue” includes:
(2) any written or oral statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding authorized by law;
(3) any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest;
(4) or any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with a public issue or an issue of public interest.
(f) The special motion may be filed within 60 days of the service of the complaint or, in the court’s discretion, at any later time upon terms it deems proper. The motion shall be noticed for hearing not more than 30 days after service unless the docket conditions of the court require a later hearing.
(g) All discovery proceedings in the action shall be stayed upon the filing of a notice of motion made pursuant to this section. The stay of discovery shall remain in effect until notice of entry of the order ruling on the motion. The court, on noticed motion and for good cause shown, may order that specified discovery be conducted notwithstanding this subdivision.
(h) For purposes of this section, “complaint” includes “cross-complaint” and “petition,” “plaintiff” includes “cross-complainant” and “petitioner,” and “defendant” includes “cross-defendant” and “respondent.”
(i) On or before January 1, 1998, the Judicial Council shall report to the Legislature on the frequency and outcome of special motions made pursuant to this section, and on any other matters pertinent to the purposes of this section.
(j) An order granting or denying a special motion to strike shall be appealable under Section 904.1.
(k)(1) Any party who files a special motion to strike pursuant to this section, and any party who files an opposition to a special motion to strike, shall, promptly upon so filing, transmit to the Judicial Council, by e-mail or fax, a copy of the endorsed-filed caption page of the motion or opposition, a copy of any related notice of appeal or petition for a writ, and a conformed copy of any order issued pursuant to this section, including any order granting or denying a special motion to strike, discovery, or fees.
(k)(2) The Judicial Council shall maintain a public record of information transmitted pursuant to this subdivision for at least three years, and may store the information on microfilm or other appropriate electronic media.
SECTION 2. Section 904.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:
904.1.(a) An appeal, other than in a limited civil case, is to the court of appeal. An appeal, other than in a limited civil case, may be taken from any of the following:
(2) From an order made after a judgment made appealable by paragraph (1).
(3) From an order granting a motion to quash service of summons or granting a motion to stay or dismiss the action on the ground of inconvenient forum.
(4) From an order granting a new trial or denying a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
(5) From an order discharging or refusing to discharge an attachment or granting a right to attach order.
(6) From an order granting or dissolving an injunction, or refusing to grant or dissolve an injunction.
(7) From an order appointing a receiver.
(8) From an interlocutory judgment, order, or decree, hereafter made or entered in an action to redeem real or personal property from a mortgage thereof, or a lien thereon, determining the right to redeem and directing an accounting.
(9) From an interlocutory judgment in an action for partition determining the rights and interests of the respective parties and directing partition to be made.
(10) From an order made appealable by the provisions of the Probate Code or the Family Code.
(11) From an interlocutory judgment directing payment of monetary sanctions by a party or an attorney for a party if the amount exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(12) From an order directing payment of monetary sanctions by a party or an attorney for a party if the amount exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(13) From an order granting or denying a special motion to strike under Section 425.16. (b) Sanction orders or judgments of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less against a party or an attorney for a party may be reviewed on an appeal by that party after entry of final judgment in the main action, or, at the discretion of the court of appeal, may be reviewed upon petition for an extraordinary writ.
SECTION 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to protect the constitutional rights of individuals to free speech, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.