Opinion ID: 2625375
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Arising from prong

Text: Our primary task in construing a statute is to determine the Legislature's intent. ( Brown v. Kelly Broadcasting Co. (1989) 48 Cal.3d 711, 724, 257 Cal.Rptr. 708, 771 P.2d 406.) Where possible, we follow the Legislature's intent, as exhibited by the plain meaning of the actual words of the law.... ( California Teachers Assn. v. Governing Bd. of Rialto Unified School Dist. (1997) 14 Cal.4th 627, 632, 59 Cal. Rptr.2d 671, 927 P.2d 1175.) Our anti-SLAPP jurisprudence heretofore has scrupulously honored this principle. In Briggs v. Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1106, 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564 ( Briggs ), when first construing the arising from prong of section 425.16, we held on the basis of the statute's plain language that a defendant moving specially to strike a cause of action arising from a statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration in a legally authorized official proceeding need not separately demonstrate that the statement or writing concerns an issue of public significance. ( Briggs, supra, at p. 1109, 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564.) And in a trio of opinions issued last year, we held that the plain language of the arising from prong encompasses any action based on protected speech or petitioning activity as defined in the statute ( Navellier v. Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 89-95, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703 ( Navellier) ), rejecting proposals that we judicially engraft the statute with requirements that defendants moving thereunder also prove the suit was intended to chill their speech ( Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 58, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 507, 52 P.3d 685) or actually had that effect ( City of Cotati v. Cashman (2002) 29 Cal.4th 69, 75,124 Cal.Rptr.2d 519, 52 P.3d 695). The Court of Appeal, in concluding that this malicious prosecution action falls within the anti-SLAPP statute's arising from prong, adhered to our plain language approach. As we previously have observed, plainly read, section 425.16 encompasses any cause of action against a person arising from any statement or writing made in, or in connection with an issue under consideration or review by, an official proceeding or body. ( Briggs, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1113, 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564.) Consistently with that observation, the Court of Appeal held that this action, which is based on allegations that LaMarche and Brutzkus maliciously and without probable cause brought and maintained a cross-complaint against Jarrow in the course of a civil lawsuit, is subject to anti-SLAPP scrutiny. The Court of Appeal grounded its conclusion in the anti-SLAPP statute's express definition of 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. (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1).) That definition, which is found in subdivision (e) of the statute, places within section 425.16's purview any written ... statement or writing made before a ... judicial proceeding, any written ... statement or writing made in connection with an issue under consideration or review by a ... judicial body, and any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition. (§ 425.16, subd. (e)(1), (2) & (4).) As the Court of Appeal noted, LaMarche was sued for filing a cross-complaint in the former municipal court and Brutzkus, her attorney, for written and oral statements he made while acting as an advocate for LaMarche in the municipal court action. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal reasoned, this action falls within the ambit of a cause of action against a person arising from any act ... in furtherance of the person's right of petition (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1)), as statutorily defined. As a plain language matter, the Court of Appeal unquestionably was correct. Indeed, the point is not disputed. Jarrow concedes that, by its terms, section 425.16 potentially may apply to every malicious prosecution action, because every such action arises from an underlying lawsuit, or petition to the judicial branch. By definition, a malicious prosecution suit alleges that the defendant committed a tort by filing a lawsuit. ( Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Bear Stearns & Co. (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1118, 1130-1131, 270 Cal.Rptr. 1, 791 P.2d 587.) [2] Accordingly, every Court of Appeal that has addressed the question has concluded that malicious prosecution causes of action fall within the purview of the anti-SLAPP statute. (See, e.g., White v. Lieberman (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 210, 220-221, 126 Cal.Rptr.2d 608; Mattel, Inc. v. Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 1179, 1188, 121 Cal. Rptr.2d 794; Chavez v. Mendoza (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 1083, 1087-1088, 114 Cal. Rptr.2d 825.) Courts in our sister states construing similar statues are in accord. [3] Even while conceding the plain language point, however, Jarrow argues there is no evidence the Legislature intended that section 425.16 apply to malicious prosecution claims. Jarrow misunderstands the point and purpose of plain language interpretation. The plain language of the statute establishes what was intended by the Legislature. ( People v. Statum (2002) 28 Cal.4th 682, 690, 122 Cal.Rptr.2d 572, 50 P.3d 355.) `If the language is clear and unambiguous there is no need for construction, nor is it necessary to resort to [extrinsic] indicia of the intent of the Legislature....' ( People v. Talibdeen (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1151, 1154, 119 Cal. Rptr.2d 922, 46 P.3d 388.) The anti-SLAPP statute is not ambiguous with respect to whether its protection of any act furthering protected rights encompasses suing for malicious prosecution. As we previously have observed, [n]othing in the statute itself categorically excludes any particular type of action from its operation. ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 92, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) In addition to honoring the anti-SLAPP statute's plain language, the Court of Appeal's construction adheres to the express statutory command that this section shall be construed broadly. (§ 425.16, subd. (a).) It also accords with the Legislature's specific decision not to include malicious prosecution claims in the statutory list of actions to which [t]his section shall not apply. (§ 425.16, subd. (d) [exempting 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].) The Legislature clearly knows how to create an exemption from the anti-SLAPP statute when it wishes to do so. It has not done so for malicious prosecution claims. Where, as here, legislative intent is expressed in unambiguous terms, we must treat the statutory language as conclusive. ( Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 61, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 507, 52 P.3d 685.) Nevertheless, we may observe that available legislative history buttresses a plain language construction. [4] Legislative history materials respecting the origins of section 425.16 indicate the statute was intended broadly to protect, inter alia, direct petitioning of the government and petition-related statements and writingsthat is, 'any written or oral statement or writing made before a legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding' (§ 425.16, subd. (e)(1)) or `in connection with an issue under consideration or review ( id., subd. (e)(2)) by such. ( Briggs, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1120, 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564, italics added.) And as we have noted, the Legislature's intent consistently has been to protect all direct petitioning of governmental bodies ... including ... courts.... ( Id. at p. 1121, 81 Cal.Rptr .2d 471, 969 P.2d 564.) [5] Jarrow also argues that the legislative history materials contain no evidence the Legislature ever considered applying the statute to malicious prosecution claims. Jarrow is mistaken. As amicus curiae the People point out, several documents in the relevant legislative history materials indicate that when the Legislature was considering, enacting, and amending anti-SLAPP legislation, it was aware that malicious prosecution actions may be SLAPP's. [6] Notwithstanding the foregoing, Jarrow suggests that this court should craft for malicious prosecution claims a categorical exemption from application of the anti-SLAPP statute. Jarrow argues that applying section 425.16 to malicious prosecution claims would have essentially the same effect of denying malicious prosecution victims a remedy as would applying the litigation privilege (Civ.Code, § 47, subd. (b)); hence, for the same reasons malicious prosecution claims are exempt from application of the litigation privilege, we should exempt them from the anti-SLAPP statute. We are not persuaded. In support of its proposal, Jarrow invokes our declaration almost 50 years ago, in Albertson v. Raboff (1956) 46 Cal.2d 375, 382, 295 P.2d 405 ( Albertson ), that the fact that a communication may be absolutely privileged for the purposes of a defamation action does not prevent its being an element of an action for malicious prosecution in a proper case. The policy of encouraging free access to the courts that underlies the absolute privilege applicable in defamation actions is outweighed by the policy of affording redress for individual wrongs when the requirements of favorable termination, lack of probable cause, and malice are satisfied. As we more recently stated, The only exception to application of [the litigation privilege] to tort suits has been for malicious prosecution actions. ( Silberg v. Anderson (1990) 50 Cal.3d 205, 216, 266 Cal.Rptr. 638, 786 P.2d 365.) Jarrow's attempted analogy between the litigation privilege and the anti-SLAPP statute is inapt. As the Court of Appeal noted, the litigation privilege is an entirely different type of statute than section 425.16. The former enshrines a substantive rule of law that grants absolute immunity from tort liability for communications made in relation to judicial proceedings ( Rubin v. Green (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1187, 1193, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 828, 847 P.2d 1044); the latter is a procedural device for screening out meritless claims ( College Hospital Inc. v. Superior Court (1994) 8 Cal.4th 704, 718, 34 Cal.Rptr.2d 898, 882 P.2d 894). In language the Legislature first adopted in the 1870's, [7] the litigation privilege states simply that A privileged publication or broadcast is one made ... [i]n any ... judicial proceeding.... (Civ. Code, § 47, subd. (b).) Section 425.16, in contrast, comprises a detailed and specific statutory scheme. Since section 425.16 neither states nor implies an exemption for malicious prosecution claims, for us judicially to impose one as Jarrow urges would violate the foremost rule of statutory construction. When interpreting statutes, `we follow the Legislature's intent, as exhibited by the plain meaning of the actual words of the law.... This court has no power to rewrite the statute so as to make it conform to a presumed intention which is not expressed.' ( City of Cotati v. Cashman, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 75, 124 Cal.Rptr .2d 519, 52 P.3d 695.) Nor does this case present the same allor-nothing problem as did Albertson and its progeny. We do not face in this case, as we did in Albertson, the logical necessity of choosing between the free access to the courts ( Albertson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 382, 295 P.2d 405) protected by the litigation privilege and the redress for individual wrongs ( ibid. ) afforded by the malicious prosecution tort. (See ibid., citing Veeder, Absolute Immunity in Defamation: Judicial Proceedings (1909) 9 Colum. L.Rev. 463, 470.) Unlike the absolute bar to relief created by the litigation privilege ( Manufacturers Life Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (1995) 10 Cal.4th 257, 283, 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 220, 895 P.2d 56), the anti-SLAPP statute requires only a minimum level of legal sufficiency and triability ( Linder v. Thrifty Oil Co. (2000) 23 Cal.4th 429, 438, fn. 5, 97 Cal.Rptr.2d 179, 2 P.3d 27). In asserting that the anti-SLAPP statute, if applied, would have the effect of barring malicious prosecution claims, Jarrow fall[s] prey ... to the fallacy that the anti-SLAPP statute allows a defendant to escape the consequences of wrongful conduct.... ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 93, 124 Cal.Rptr .2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) In fact, the anti-SLAPP statute neither constitutesnor enables courts to effectany kind of `immunity'.... When a `complaint is both legally sufficient and supported by a sufficient prima facie showing of facts to sustain a favorable judgment if the evidence submitted by the plaintiff is credited` [citation], it is not subject to being stricken as a SLAPP. ( Ibid .) In sum, the litigation privilege poses a clear bar ( Ribas v. Clark (1985) 38 Cal.3d 355, 364, 212 Cal.Rptr. 143, 696 P.2d 637) to actions based on statements made in litigation. In view of that privilege's absolute nature ( Silberg v. Anderson, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 209, 266 Cal.Rptr. 638, 786 P.2d 365), it was essential in Albertson that we gloss the statutory language memorializing it, in light of the policy of affording redress for malicious prosecution, lest that remedial tort be altogether eliminated. (See Albertson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 382, 295 P.2d 405.) No such imperative applies here. The anti-SLAPP statute does not bar a plaintiff from litigating an action that arises out of the defendant's free speech or petitioning ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 93, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703); rather, it subjects to potential dismissal only those actions in which the plaintiff cannot `state[ ] and substantiate[ ] a legally sufficient claim.' ( Ibid. ) In another vein, Jarrow argues that the Legislature cannot have meant to subject malicious prosecution claims to anti-SLAPP scrutiny, because malicious prosecution is a unique, carefully circumscribed tort with its own pre-screening mechanisms. By pre-screening mechanisms, Jarrow apparently refers to the elements of the malicious prosecution tort itself, and in particular to the element of lack of probable cause. (See Sheldon Appel Co. v. Albert & Oliker (1989) 47 Cal.3d 863, 871, 254 Cal.Rptr. 336, 765 P.2d 498 ( Sheldon Appel Co. ).) That malicious prosecution has elements and that a plaintiff must prove these in order to recover, of course, hardly makes malicious prosecution unique among torts. Nor does the malicious prosecution tort's utility in combating meritless and harassing litigation preclude the possibility that a particular malicious prosecution action may itself be meritless or designed to harass. To the contrary, spurious malicious prosecution suits may, like others, chill the valid exercise of the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances. (§ 425.16, subd. (a).) Jarrow's pre-screening argument is logically flawed. We cannot infer from any generalized overlap in the stated legislative aims underlying section 425.16 (see id., subd. (a)) and the policies we have recognized as supporting the existence of the malicious prosecution tort (see Albertson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 382, 295 P.2d 405) that the Legislature could not have discerned a role for the anti-SLAPP mechanism in the malicious prosecution context. Considered as devices for screening out meritless suits, the anti-SLAPP device and the lack-of-probable-cause element of malicious prosecution are perhaps similarly focused, but they are not duplicates. A malicious prosecution defendant who in fact had probable cause in the underlying action may, depending on the circumstances of the particular case, be able to obtain dismissal on that ground only after protracted and costly litigation. By contrast, section 425.16 was based on the need to 'screen out meritless cases at an early stage.' ( College Hospital Inc. v. Superior Court, supra, 8 Cal.4th at p. 718, 34 Cal.Rptr.2d 898, 882 P.2d 894; see generally Sheldon Appel Co., supra, 47 Cal.3d at p. 873, 254 Cal.Rptr. 336, 765 P.2d 498.) Moreover, because lack of probable cause is not the only element of a malicious prosecution claim (favorable termination of the prior action and malice also being necessary; see Sheldon Appel Co., supra, at p. 871, 254 Cal.Rptr. 336, 765 P.2d 498), such a claim may lack merit even when the plaintiff can prove lack of probable cause. In sum, contrary to Jarrow's implication, plausible reasons for the Legislature's having equipped malicious prosecution defendants with both weaponsthe probable cause defense and a potential anti-SLAPP motionagainst meritless attack can easily be discerned. Ultimately it appears that, in choosing comprehensive language for the anti-SLAPP statute's arising from prong, `[t]he Legislature recognized that all kinds of claims could achieve the objective of a SLAPP suit.' ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at pp. 92-93, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) Under the remedial scheme the Legislature crafted, therefore, `the nature or form of the action is not what is critical but rather that it is against a person who has exercised certain rights.' ( Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 60, 124 Cal.Rptr .2d 507, 52 P.3d 685.) In petitioning for review, Jarrow also argued that, because filing or maintaining an action without probable cause does not constitute a valid act of that person in furtherance of the person's right of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1)), malicious prosecution claims, which by definition are based on filing or maintaining actions without probable cause, should not be eligible for anti-SLAPP protection. We already have, in another context, considered and rejected Jarrow's validity argument, noting it `confuses the threshold question of whether the SLAPP statute [potentially] applies with the question whether [an opposing plaintiff] has established a probability of success on the merits.' ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 94, 124 Cal.Rptr .2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) Contrary to Jarrow's suggestion, that malicious prosecution is an action based on alleged abusive activity does not entail that simply by alleging malicious prosecution a plaintiff can exempt a lawsuit from anti-SLAPP scrutiny. `The Legislature did not intend that in order to invoke the special motion to strike the defendant must first establish [its] actions are constitutionally protected under the First Amendment as a matter of law. If this were the case then the [secondary] inquiry as to whether the plaintiff has established a probability of success would be superfluous.' ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at pp. 94-95, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) [8] Finally, Jarrow argues that affirmance will result in elimination of the malicious prosecution tort, thereby giving a green light to parties and counsel to bring meritless actions and rendering unscrupulous litigators and attorneys exempt from any accountability for their acts. Not so. Neither section 425.16 itself nor anything in our anti-SLAPP jurisprudence diminishes the viability of meritorious malicious prosecution claims that may be articulated against such persons. The Legislature . . . has provided, and California courts have recognized, substantive and procedural limitations that protect plaintiffs against overbroad application of the anti-SLAPP mechanism. ( Briggs, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 1122-1123, 81 Cal. Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564.) Courts deciding anti-SLAPP motions, for example, are empowered to mitigate their impact by ordering, where appropriate, `that specified discovery be conducted notwithstanding' the motion's pendency. [Citation.] And 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.' ( Equilon, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 66, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 507, 52 P.3d 685.) Thus, as we repeatedly have observed, the Legislature's detailed anti-SLAPP scheme ensur[es] that claims with the requisite minimal merit may proceed. ( Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 94, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 530, 52 P.3d 703.) [9] For all these reasons, we decline to create a categorical exemption from the anti-SLAPP statute for malicious prosecution causes of action. Accordingly, we hold that this action is not exempt from anti-SLAPP scrutiny merely because it is one for malicious prosecution. If on reflection the Legislature desires to create an exemption for malicious prosecution claims, it may easily do so. (See Briggs, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1123, 81 Cal.Rptr.2d 471, 969 P.2d 564 [same with respect to public interest limitation].)