Tentative ruling issued by Judge Deborah C SERVINO on Feb. 21, 2020 in Orange County, CA - Case no: xxxxx341

SPECIAL MOTION TO STRIKE
Defendant Cindy Williams filed a special motion to strike Plaintiff Steven Sedrak’s Complaint pursuant to the anti-SLAPP statute (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16).
The motion is denied.
A cause of action arising from an act in furtherance of the defendant’s constitutional right of petition or free speech in connection with a public issue is subject to a special motion to strike unless the plaintiff demonstrates a probability of prevailing on the claim. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16, subd. (b)(1); Finton Construction, Inc. v. Bidna & Keys, APLC (2015) 238 Cal.App.4th 200, 208.)
An “ ‘act in furtherance of a person’s right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection with a public issue’ includes: (1) any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding, or any other official proceeding authorized by law, (2) any written or oral statement or writing made….....