Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-00373/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-00373-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 320
Nature of Suit: Assault, Libel, and Slander
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Account Receivable

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ORDER – No. 18-cv-00373-LB

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

San Francisco Division

STEEP HILL LABORATORIES, INC, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

DAVID HAROLD MOORE,

Defendant.

Case No. 18-cv-00373-LB

ORDER GRANTING STAY OF 

PROCEEDINGS PENDING APPEAL OF 

ORDER DENYING ANTI-SLAPP 

MOTION TO STRIKE

Re: ECF No. 46

On March 8, 2018, the court issued an order that, among other things, denied defendant David 

Harold Moore’s motion to strike the plaintiffs’ complaint under the California “anti-SLAPP” law 

(California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16). Steep Hill Labs., Inc. v. Moore, No. 18-cv-00373-

LB, 2018 WL 1242182 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2018). Mr. Moore has filed an appeal to the Ninth 

Circuit. Mr. Moore then filed a motion in this court asking it to confirm that his appeal 

automatically stayed this case or, in the alternative, asking the court to stay this case.

A federal district court’s denial of a California anti-SLAPP motion to strike is immediately 

appealable. Hilton v. Hallmark Cards, 599 F.3d 894, 900 (9th Cir. 2010). “Notice of an appeal of 

such an order divests the lower court of ‘control over those aspects of the case involved in the 

appeal,’ unless the lower court finds the appeal frivolous.” Piping Rock Partners, Inc. v. David 

Lerner Assocs., Inc., No. C 12-04634 SI, 2013 WL 3458215, at *1 (N.D. Cal. July 9, 2013) 

(quoting Griggs v. Provident Consumer Disc. Co., 459 U.S. 56, 58 (1982)). “However, the 

Case 3:18-cv-00373-LB Document 58 Filed 05/14/18 Page 1 of 2
ORDER – No. 18-cv-00373-LB 2

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

standard for a frivolous appeal ‘is quite high,’ and frivolity should be found in cases where the 

appeal is either ‘wholly without merit’ or the outcome is ‘obvious.’” Id. (quoting Moser v. Encore 

Capital Grp., Inc., No. 04CV2085-LAB (WMc), 2007 WL 1114113, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 

2007)). While the court obviously believes its ruling on Mr. Moore’s anti-SLAPP motion to strike 

was correct, it cannot say that Mr. Moore’s appeal of that order is frivolous or wholly without 

merit. The court must therefore stay the proceedings while Mr. Moore’s appeal is pending.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 14, 2018

______________________________________

LAUREL BEELER

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:18-cv-00373-LB Document 58 Filed 05/14/18 Page 2 of 2