Court Opinion

ID: 2770327
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-15 19:02:42.07945+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:26.991211
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/15/15 Ostly v. Omura CA1/4
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                  IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                         FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION FOUR

THOMAS OSTLY,
         Plaintiff and Appellant,
                                                                    A137411
v.
ANNE TAMIKO OMURA et al.,                                           (Alameda County
                                                                    Super. Ct. No. RG12-621666)
         Defendants and Respondents.

THOMAS OSTLY,
         Plaintiff and Appellant,                                   A138596
v.
                                                                    (Alameda County
ANNE TAMIKO OMURA,                                                  Super. Ct. No. RG12-621666)
         Defendant and Respondent.

THOMAS OSTLY,
         Plaintiff and Appellant,                                   A138691
v.
                                                                    (Alameda County
DANIEL SIEGEL et al.,                                               Super. Ct. No. RG12-621666)
         Defendants and Respondents.

                                                             I.
                                                 INTRODUCTION
         Following a jury verdict in his favor in the underlying sexual harassment and
wrongful termination litigation brought by his former employee, Allison Moreno
(Moreno), Thomas Ostly (Ostly) filed a malicious prosecution action against the

                                                             1
attorneys who represented Moreno in that litigation (respondent attorneys1). He also sued
Anne Tamika Omura (Omura), an attorney who consulted with and advised both Moreno
and respondent attorneys in connection with that litigation, but never appeared as an
attorney of record. The respondent attorneys and Omura brought special motions to strike
Ostly’s complaint for malicious prosecution pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section
425.16, the anti-SLAPP statute.2 The trial court granted both anti-SLAPP motions and
awarded attorney fees. In these consolidated appeals, Ostly contends the special motions
to strike were improperly granted and the attorney fees awards must be reversed. Finding
no error, we will affirm.
                                                II.
                            FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
       The underlying case arose from a two-month sexual relationship between Ostly
and Moreno. At the time, Ostly was a partner with Ostly, Murphy, Vu (OMV), where
Moreno worked as his paralegal. The facts relating to their relationship, the acrimonious
atmosphere which developed, Moreno’s departure from the law firm, and the ensuing
litigation are all described in great detail in our nonpublished opinion issued in
connection with the appeal of this underlying action. (Moreno v. Ostly (A130455,
July 31, 2012).)
       Briefly, in or around December 2005, Ostly hired Moreno to work at OMV. Ostly
was Moreno’s direct supervisor, and the attorney for whom she primarily worked. In
May 2006, Ostly and Moreno began to have a sexual relationship which they kept secret

       1
         Respondent attorneys are composed of the law firm of Siegel & Yee, and
individual attorneys Daniel Siegel, Anne Butterfield Weills, Jose Luis Fuentes and Dean
Royer.
       2
         All undesignated statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
Section 425.16, subdivision (b)(1), states: “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 Constitution or the 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.”

                                               2
from the other employees of OMV. Moreno claimed their first sexual encounter took
place after she became intoxicated as a result of “Ostly’s persistence” that she have
several drinks with him after work. She claimed Ostly “forced himself sexually” on her
when she was “hardly conscious,” and was powerless to stop it. After this, Moreno
continued to have a sexual relationship with Ostly but she viewed none of these
encounters as consensual. She claimed she acquiesced to Ostly’s sexual demands based
on a coercive and manipulative working environment. For his part, Ostly claimed their
sexual relationship was entirely consensual.
       On July 11, 2006, the relationship ended. Three days later, Moreno’s employment
at OMV ended. Moreno claimed she was fired when she sought to terminate her sexual
relationship with Ostly. Ostly claimed she voluntarily resigned from OMV after he
criticized her work performance.
       Shortly after Moreno’s employment was terminated, she contacted Omura, an
attorney who was a former employer and personal friend. A meeting was conducted at
Omura’s house on a weekend during which Moreno shared confidential attorney-client
information. On the Monday following that meeting, Omura contacted respondent
attorneys regarding Moreno’s case. Respondent attorneys then became Moreno’s
attorneys of record, although Omura continued to consult with Moreno and respondent
attorneys in an unofficial capacity.3
       On August 8, 2007, Moreno filed a lawsuit against Ostly. The operative second
amended complaint sought relief under only two theories––sexual harassment and
wrongful termination. In response to Moreno’s complaint, Ostly filed a cross-complaint
for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional interference
with prospective economic relations. Ostly claimed Moreno’s accusations caused him
serious damage, including damage to his professional reputation, inability to continue to
practice law, loss of his partnership with OMV, and severe emotional distress.

       3
         In unrelated litigation, a jury found Omura had defamed Ostly to a third party
and did so with malice fraud and oppression, awarding Ostly $462,000. (Ostly v. Omura,
Alameda County Superior Court, Case No. RG07-323484.)

                                               3
       Ostly filed a pretrial motion seeking summary judgment or summary adjudication
of Moreno’s action. As part of his showing in support of summary judgment, Ostly
submitted transcripts of numerous text messages and emails from Moreno which he
claimed demonstrated the consensual nature of the parties’ relationship. The court denied
Ostly’s request for summary judgment, finding triable issues of material fact existed on
Moreno’s sexual harassment and wrongful termination claims.
       Both Moreno’s complaint and Ostly’s cross-complaint went to a jury trial on
June 28, 2010. On July 30, 2010, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Ostly on both the
complaint and the cross-complaint. By special verdict on Ostly’s cross-complaint, the
jury found that Moreno had defamed Ostly by falsely accusing him of raping or sexually
assaulting her; and in making these false accusations, she acted with hatred or ill will
toward Ostly. The jury awarded Ostly approximately $1.25 million in compensatory and
punitive damages.
       On November 29, 2010, Moreno filed a notice of appeal. On July 13, 2011,
Moreno filed her opening brief. The brief did not seek reversal of the judgment in favor
of Ostly on Moreno’s claims for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Instead,
Moreno sought reversal of the jury’s verdict on Ostly’s cross-complaint for defamation,
intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional interference with prospective
economic relations. On July 31, 2012, this court issued a nonpublished opinion affirming
the judgment. (Moreno v. Ostly, supra.)
       Ostly filed the instant action on March 16, 2012.4 Among other causes of action,
Ostly’s complaint stated a cause of action for malicious prosecution in which he alleges
respondent attorneys and Omura “commenced, encouraged, participated in, and directed

       4
          Both here and below, respondent attorneys and Omura claim the complaint was
not filed within the one-year statute of limitations (§ 340.6). The trial court rejected this
argument. In light of our conclusion that the trial court properly dismissed this case
pursuant to the anti-SLAPP statute, we need not address the statute of limitations claim.

                                              4
the filing of the Moreno Action, and continued to prosecute the Moreno Action, without
probable cause to do so and with hatred and malice toward Ostly.5
       On September 25 and 28, 2012, respectively, respondent attorneys and Omura
each moved to strike Ostly’s complaint under the anti-SLAPP statute (§ 425.16).
Respondent attorneys and Omura contended that (1) malicious prosecution actions are
subject to the anti-SLAPP provisions and (2) there is no probability that Ostly will prevail
on the malicious prosecution claim at trial. The trial court agreed and granted the anti-
SLAPP motions.
       Both Omura and respondent attorneys noticed motions for attorney fees and costs
incurred in connection with their anti-SLAPP motions pursuant to section 425.16,
subdivision (c)(1). The motions were granted and Omura was awarded $45,819.51 and
respondent attorneys were awarded $39,095.50.
       On May 15, 2013, Ostly filed Appeal No. A138691 from the trial court’s rulings
granting the anti-SLAPP motions filed by Omura and respondent attorneys. On May 7,
2013, Ostly filed Appeal No. A138596 from the judgment entered in Omura’s favor. On
May 15, 2013, Ostly filed Appeal No. A137411 from the judgment entered in respondent
attorneys’ favor. All three appeals were consolidated by stipulation of the parties on
May 29, 2013.
                                             III.
                                       DISCUSSION
       A. Standards Governing Anti-SLAPP Motions to Strike
       “A SLAPP suit––a strategic lawsuit against public participation––seeks to chill or
punish a party’s exercise of constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the
government for redress of grievances. [Citation.]” (Rusheen v. Cohen (2006) 37 Cal.4th
1048, 1055; Wilcox v. Superior Court (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 809, 815, fn. 2, disapproved
on other grounds in Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 53,

       5
         Although Ostly’s complaint alleged additional causes of action for abuse of
process and negligence, he has abandoned all issues with regard to these causes of action
on appeal.

                                              5
68.) Stated another way, a SLAPP lawsuit is one that arises from constitutionally
protected speech or petitioning activity that “lacks even minimal merit.” (Navellier v.
Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 89 (Navellier).)
       Section 425.16 provides a summary procedure for disposing of SLAPP suits
through the vehicle of what has become known as an anti-SLAPP motion. The Supreme
Court has succinctly described the analysis and resolution of an anti-SLAPP motion: It
“requires the court to engage in a two-step process. First, the court decides whether the
defendant has made a threshold showing that the challenged cause of action is one arising
from protected activity. The moving defendant’s burden is to demonstrate that the act or
acts of which the plaintiff complains were taken ‘in furtherance of the [defendant]’s right
of petition or free speech under the United States or California Constitution in connection
with a public issue,’ as defined in the statute. (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1).) If the court finds
such a showing has been made, it then determines whether the plaintiff has demonstrated
a probability of prevailing on the claim.” (Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc.,
supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 67.) In assessing the probability of success, section 425.16
“establishes a procedure where the trial court evaluates the merits of the lawsuit using a
summary-judgment-like procedure at an early stage of the litigation. [Citation.]” (Varian
Medical Systems, Inc. v. Delfino (2005) 35 Cal.4th 180, 192.) “Only a cause of action
that satisfies both prongs of the anti-SLAPP statute––i.e., that arises from protected
speech or petitioning and lacks even minimal merit––is a SLAPP, subject to being
stricken under the statute.” (Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 89, original italics.)
       Ostly’s malicious prosecution action against respondent attorneys and Omura
arises from filing and litigating Moreno’s sexual harassment/wrongful termination action
against him. The filing and prosecution of a lawsuit are acts in furtherance of a person’s
right of petition or free speech and, therefore, constitute protected activity under the anti-
SLAPP statute. (§ 425.16, subds. (e)(1), (e)(2).) Accordingly, respondent attorneys and
Omura have met their burden of demonstrating the malicious prosecution cause of action
arises from protected activity. (See Jarrow Formulas, Inc. v. LaMarche (2003) 31
Cal.4th 728, 734-735 [holding that a malicious prosecution lawsuit necessarily arises

                                               6
from constitutionally protected activity, i.e., filing the underlying lawsuit]; Daniels v.
Robbins (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 204, 214-215 [“plain language of the anti-SLAPP
statute dictates that every claim of malicious prosecution is a cause of action arising from
protected activity because every such claim necessarily depends upon written and oral
statements in a prior judicial proceeding”].)
       Consequently, the issues on appeal focus on the second prong of the statute,
dealing with whether Ostly has “demonstrated a probability of prevailing” on the merits
of his malicious prosecution cause of action. (Navellier, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 88.) The
California Supreme Court has described Ostly’s burden as follows: “To establish a
probability of prevailing, the plaintiff ‘must demonstrate that the 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.’ [Citations.]”
(Soukup v. Law Offices of Herbert Hafif (2006) 39 Cal.4th 260, 291 (Soukup).) We do
not “weigh conflicting evidence to determine whether it is more probable than not that
plaintiff will prevail on the claim . . . .” (Taus v. Loftus (2007) 40 Cal.4th 683, 714.)
Instead, our standard of review requires us to consider the defendant’s evidence only to
determine if it has defeated that submitted by the plaintiff as a matter of law. (Soukup,
supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 269, fn. 3.) “These determinations are legal questions, and we
review the record de novo. [Citation.]” (Damon v. Ocean Hills Journalism Club (2000)
85 Cal.App.4th 468, 474; Lieberman v. KCOP Television, Inc. (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th
156, 163-164; Wilson v. Parker, Covert & Chidester (2002) 28 Cal.4th 811, 821
(Wilson).)
       B. Omura is not a Proper Malicious Prosecution Defendant
       The trial court found Ostly’s malicious prosecution action against Omura was
barred as a matter of law because Ostly failed to produce any evidence that Omura was
“actively involved in bringing or continuing” Moreno’s sexual harassment/wrongful
termination lawsuit against Ostly. We agree.
       Ostly claims Omura’s liability should be based on her actions in “advising,
counseling and encouraging” Moreno and respondent attorneys. Ostly points to Omura’s

                                                7
declaration acknowledging that she: (1) referred Moreno to respondent attorneys;
(2) ”collaborated and worked together” with respondent attorneys on Moreno’s behalf
until Moreno’s complaint was filed; and (3) continued to consult with respondent
attorneys, “although to a lesser extent” after the complaint was filed.6
       However, it is undisputed that Omura was never Moreno’s counsel of record in
Moreno’s sexual harassment/wrongful termination case against Ostly. She never signed
any pleadings or filings in the Moreno action, her name does not appear on any caption or
pleading filed with the court, nor did she sign any correspondence to Ostly, or anyone
else, on Moreno’s behalf.
       Liability for malicious prosecution is predicated upon either: (1) an affirmative act
in the malicious initiation of a case without probable cause; or (2) causing continued
prosecution of a case notwithstanding knowledge that it was maliciously filed without
probable cause. (Zamos v. Stroud (2004) 32 Cal.4th 958, 969-970.) Both circumstances
obviously presume a certain degree of control over the litigation.
       Ostly can point this court to no case where a consulting attorney, who never
formally appeared in an action, was held liable for malicious prosecution. The cases he
relies on all involve counsel of record, even if they had minimal participation in the case.
(Sycamore Ridge Apartments LLC v. Naumann (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 1385, 1407
[finding attorneys who were associated in as counsel, but had not done any work on the
underlying case, could be liable for malicious prosecution]; Lujan v. Gordon (1977) 70
Cal.App.3d 260, 262-263 [allowing malicious prosecution against other attorneys in firm
listed as counsel of record on pleadings and letters on theory of agency]; Soukup, supra,
39 Cal.4th at p. 297 [attorney defendant “cannot insulate himself from [malicious
prosecution] liability, as a matter of law, simply because he asserts that his role in the
underlying action was limited to that of appellate counsel”].)

       6
         Ostly claims that Omura actively persuaded and influenced respondent
attorneys’ decision to include an allegation that Ostly and Moreno’s first sexual
encounter was nonconsensual. However, he has tendered no evidentiary support for this
accusation, and bases it instead on speculation and innuendo.

                                              8
       Extending the scope of malicious prosecution actions to encompass a consulting
attorney who does not have the authority to dismiss, prosecute or withdraw from the case
would run counter to the advice given litigants in Cole v. Patricia A. Myers & Associates,
AFC (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 1095 (Cole). In Cole, the court concluded that an attorney
“whose name appears on all filings” in a case that may have been maliciously prosecuted
cannot avoid liability for malicious prosecution “by intentionally failing to learn anything
about” the case. (Id. at p. 1117.) In essence, Cole held that attorneys may be liable for
malicious prosecution even if their only conduct is allowing their names to appear on
pleadings.
       In reaching its conclusion, the court offered the following advice to attorneys who
wish to avoid malicious prosecution liability when their role is only tangential or
contingent. Attorneys in that position “may easily avoid liability for malicious
prosecution . . . if they refrain from formally associating in [the case] until their role is
triggered,” or at least “refrain from lending their names to pleadings or motions about
which they know next to nothing.” (Cole, supra, 206 Cal.App.4th at p. 1119.)
Essentially Cole drew a bright-line rule for purpose of liability for malicious prosecution–
–only attorneys of record can legitimately be considered to have control over the case
with the power to decide how and whether to continue litigating. By contrast, this control
is completely absent when an attorney acts merely as a consultant, but is not counsel of
record.
       No reasonable interpretation of the law would allow a malicious prosecution claim
to be made against Omura when it would have the practical effect of making her
potentially liable for a lawsuit which she did not initiate, which she did not cause to be
prosecuted, and which she did not have the authority to decide whether to continue. The
trial court properly granted Omura’s anti-SLAPP motion on this basis.
       C. Probable Cause Element of Malicious Prosecution
       As discussed, in granting the anti-SLAPP motion, the court found Ostly failed to
satisfy his second-prong burden to show the probability of succeeding on the merits of his
malicious prosecution claim against respondent attorneys. Specifically, the court found

                                               9
“[b]ased on the evidence presented, the Court cannot conclude that any reasonable
attorney would have agreed that the underlying Moreno v. Ostly action was totally and
completely without merit.” (Italics added.)
       “To establish a cause of action for malicious prosecution, a plaintiff must prove
that the underlying action was: (1) terminated in the plaintiff’s favor, (2) prosecuted
without probable cause, and (3) initiated with malice. [Citation.]” (Franklin Mint Co. v.
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 313, 333.) There is no dispute
that the underlying wrongful termination/sexual harassment action terminated favorably
to Ostly. As dictated by the arguments on appeal, our analysis will focus on the second
element, whether probable cause existed for each cause of action alleged against Ostly.7
(Videotape Plus, Inc. v. Lyons (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 156, 161 (Videotape Plus).)
       Probable cause is a very low standard. (Marijanovic v. Gray, York & Duffy (2006)
137 Cal.App.4th 1262, 1271 [“ ’This rather lenient standard for bringing a civil action
reflects “the important public policy of avoiding the chilling of novel or debatable legal
claims.” ’ [Citation.]”].) “A litigant or attorney who possesses competent evidence to
substantiate a legally cognizable claim for relief does not act tortiously by bringing the
claim, even if also aware of evidence that will weigh against the claim. Plaintiffs and
their attorneys are not required, on penalty of tort liability, to attempt to predict how a
trier of fact will weigh the competing evidence, or to abandon their claim if they think it
likely the evidence will ultimately weigh against them. They have the right to bring a
claim they think unlikely to succeed, so long as it is arguably meritorious. [Citation.]”
(Wilson v. Parker, Covert & Chidester (2002) 28 Cal.4th 811, 822, fn. omitted (Wilson).)
       In the same vein, our Supreme Court explained: “ ’Probable cause may be present
even where a suit lacks merit. Favorable termination of the suit often establishes lack of
merit, yet the plaintiff in a malicious prosecution action must separately show lack of
       7
          The trial court, in its ruling on the anti-SLAPP motion, did not address the
malice element and respondent attorneys do not raise any argument with respect to
malice on appeal. Accordingly, to the extent any claim of absence of malice could be
raised, this argument is forfeited on appeal. (See Mundy v. Lenc (2012) 203 Cal.App.4th
1401, 1406.)

                                              10
probable cause. Reasonable lawyers can differ, some seeing as meritless suits which
others believe have merit, and some seeing as totally and completely without merit suits
which others see as only marginally meritless. Suits which all reasonable lawyers agree
totally lack merit—that is, those which lack probable cause—are the least meritorious of
all meritless suits. Only this subgroup of meritless suits present[s] no probable cause.’
[Citations.]” (Jarrow Formulas, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 743, fn. 13, quoting Roberts v.
Sentry Life Insurance (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 375, 382, original italics (Roberts).)
       The probable cause element presents a legal question which is determined by the
objective standard of whether, based on the facts known, any reasonable attorney would
think the claim is legally tenable. (Wilson, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 817.) Significantly, in
making an assessment of probable cause an attorney is entitled to rely on the information
provided by the client, unless the attorney is on notice of specific factual errors in the
client’s version that render the claim untenable. (Swat-Fame, Inc. v. Goldstein (2002)
101 Cal.App.4th 613, 625-627; Morrison v. Rudolph (2002) 103 Cal.App.4th 506,
512-513, disapproved on other grounds by Zamos v. Stroud, supra, 32 Cal.4th at
pp. 971-973 (Morrison); Daniels v. Robbins, supra, 182 Cal.App.4th at p. 223.) Without
knowledge that his or her client has made specific false statements, an attorney “ ’may,
without being guilty of malicious prosecution, vigorously pursue litigation in which [the
attorney] is unsure of whether his [or her] client or the client’s adversary is truthful, so
long as that issue is genuinely in doubt. [Citation.]” (Morrison, supra, 103 Cal.App.4th
at p. 513.)
       A finding of probable cause ends the inquiry. “If the court determines that there
was probable cause to institute the prior action, the malicious prosecution action fails,
whether or not there is evidence that the prior suit was maliciously motivated.
[Citations.]” (Sheldon Appel Co. v. Albert & Oliker (1989) 47 Cal.3d 863, 875.)
       D. The Denial Of Summary Judgment Established Probable Cause
       As already noted, Ostly filed a motion for summary judgment against Moreno’s
complaint in the underlying action. Respondent attorneys contend that the denial of this

                                              11
summary judgment motion conclusively established probable cause existed for pursuing
Moreno’s sexual harassment/wrongful termination action. In this case, they are correct.
       California law holds that any positive rulings on the legal merits of an underlying
case has the general effect of establishing probable cause in bringing the suit. (Bergman
v. Drum (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 11, 22 [“where an interim determination in the
underlying action has the effect of demonstrating that a suit is not totally and completely
without merit, it will have the effect of establishing probable cause to bring the suit”].)
Accordingly, denial of a motion for summary judgment in an underlying case shows
probable cause existed for the action. (Roberts, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at pp. 383-384.)
The Roberts court explained why: “First, summary judgment motions usually are heard
only after full discovery develops the evidence relevant to the claim. . . . [¶] Second, the
judge denying summary judgment is impartial. . . . So a judge’s denial of summary
judgment accurately predicts that reasonable lawyers would find a case arguably
meritorious. [Citation.] [¶] Because denial of summary judgment is a sound indicator of
probable cause, it is sensible to accept it as establishing probable cause defeating a later
malicious prosecution suit.” (Id. at pp. 383-384; accord, Slaney v. Ranger Ins. Co. (2004)
115 Cal.App.4th 306, 319 [“ ’denial of summary judgment is a sound indicator of
probable cause, it is sensible to accept it as establishing probable cause defeating a later
malicious prosecution suit’ ”].)
       This reasoning has been endorsed by our Supreme Court: “A trial court’s
conclusion that issues of material fact remain for trial ‘necessarily impl[ies] that the judge
finds at least some merit in the claim. The claimant may win, if certain material facts are
decided favorably. This finding (unless disregarded) compels [the] conclusion that there
is probable cause, because probable cause is lacking only in the total absence of merit.’
[Citation.] Giving effect to this conclusion ‘serves the policy . . . to discourage dubious
malicious prosecution suits.’ [Citation.]” (Wilson, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 819,
fn. omitted.)
       Here, Ostly, believing there was no merit to Moreno’s lawsuit, brought a motion
for summary judgment asserting that Moreno had no evidence to establish her causes of

                                             12
action for sexual harassment/wrongful discharge against him. The trial court disagreed,
finding each and every cause of action was sufficiently tenable as to avoid summary
adjudication.
       Thus, a judge examined the evidence and found Moreno’s claims were not totally
and completely without evidentiary support. To the contrary, the judge found they were
sufficiently meritorious to go to trial. The trial court’s ruling, determining there were
triable issues of fact supporting Moreno’s causes of action, “compels [the] conclusion
that there is probable cause, because probable cause is lacking only in the total absence
of merit.” (Roberts, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 383, original italics.) Consequently, “it
is sensible to accept it as establishing probable cause [in] defeating a later malicious
prosecution suit.” (Id. at p. 384.)
       E. The Fraud Exception to the Interim Adverse Judgment Rule does not
       Apply

       The use of a summary judgment denial in the underlying action as a predicate for a
showing of probable cause as a matter of law is subject to an exception where the interim
judgment was induced by fraud or perjury. In that case, the presumption of probable
cause is rebutted. (Roberts, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 384 [“For example, if denial of
summary judgment was induced by materially false facts submitted in opposition,
equating denial with probable cause might be wrong. Summary judgment might have
been granted but for the false evidence.”].)
       Ostly contends the fraud exception applies here because his motion for summary
judgment was denied “based upon Moreno’s fraudulent and perjurious testimony.”
Specifically, as he did in the trial court, Ostly claims the fraud exception applies because
the jury found against Moreno and for Ostly on his defamation counterclaim, including a
special verdict finding that Moreno acted with hatred or ill will toward Ostly when she
falsely told third parties that Ostly raped and/or sexually assaulted her.
       First, “the fraud exception requires ‘ ”knowing use of false and perjured
testimony.” ’ [Citation.]” (Antounian v. Louis Vuitton Malletier (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th
438, 452.) There is no evidence respondent attorneys knowingly used false and perjured

                                               13
testimony in opposing Ostly’s summary judgment/adjudication motion. Respondent
attorneys persuasively argued below, “[w]hether Moreno welcomed Ostly’s sexual
advances was information clearly personal to and only known by Moreno and not
anything that [respondent attorneys] could have otherwise known. [Citation.]” Ostly
speculates on a broad conspiracy theory, whereby he claims respondent attorneys
conspired with Omura to manufacture the allegation that Ostly had sexually assaulted
Moreno to make it easier for Omura to defend Ostly’s defamation lawsuit against her.
However, he has produced no evidence to support his allegations. The standard for a
plaintiff opposing an anti-SLAPP motion requires admissible evidence, not speculation.
(Tuchscher Development Enterprises, Inc. v. San Diego Unified Port Dist. (2003) 106
Cal.App.4th 1219, 1237-1238.)
       Additionally, Ostly has failed to show that “summary judgment might have been
granted but for the false evidence.” (Roberts, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 384.) As
explained below, even if Moreno perjured herself, falsified verified pleadings, and
generally withheld the truth about whether her first sexual encounter with Ostly was
consensual or nonconsensual, she still would have been able to raise a triable issue of fact
with respect to her causes of action for sexual harassment and wrongful discharge.
       In attempting to show respondent attorneys obtained summary judgment by
submitting false facts, Ostly repeatedly argues on appeal that Moreno was making a claim
against Ostly for sexual assault and/or rape. However, the record plainly shows that the
causes of action alleged against Ostly were employment-based claims for sexual
harassment and wrongful termination. Moreno’s allegation that that during their first
sexual encounter Ostly “forced himself sexually on Moreno while she was very
intoxicated and hardly conscious” was just one of many factual allegations supporting
these causes of action.
       Moreover, there are specific jury instructions for assault and sexual battery. (See,
e.g., CACI Nos. 1300, 1306.) Those were not given on Moreno’s causes of action and
the jury instructions and verdict forms pertained solely to the employment-related claims
for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

                                            14
       Regardless of whether their first sexual encounter was consensual or
nonconsensual, respondent attorneys established the sexual harassment and wrongful
discharge claims had evidentiary support. In granting summary judgment in Moreno’s
favor, the court set out the genuine issues of material fact supporting Moreno’s claims.
With respect to wrongful termination, the court found as follows: “While [Moreno]
cannot demonstrate actual termination, there are triable issues as to whether [Moreno]
was constructively terminated due to an intolerable working condition.”
       As for sexual harassment, the court found as follows: “As to the hostile
environment claim, [Moreno] has demonstrated triable issues of material fact as to
whether the initial sexual encounter and the ensuing ‘relationship’ were consensual or
welcome. [Citations.] [Moreno] has also demonstrated triable issues as to whether
[Ostly’s] conduct was so severe and pervasive as to alter the conditions of the
employment and create an abusive working relationship for [Moreno]. [Citations.] As
to the quid pro quo claim, the same triable issue on (lack of) consent is present and
further, [Moreno] has raised a triable issue as to whether [Ostly’s] words and actions
implicitly conditioned her continued employment on the sexual relationship. [Citations.]
In addition, the proximity in time between [Moreno’s] alleged attempt to break off the
relationship and the dispute with [Ostly] over mistakes at work (and [Ostly’s] alleged
threat to terminate [Moreno]) raises a disputed issue as to whether [Moreno’s] job
security was tied to the continued ‘relationship.’ [Citations.] This is for the jury to
decide.”
       It is evident from the text of the order denying Ostly summary judgment that the
court’s ruling was not predicated solely on Moreno’s description of the parties’ first
sexual encounter as occurring without her consent. Rather, the court’s ruling was based
on the many triable issues of disputed fact surrounding the parties’ two-month personal
and professional relationship. Moreover, the court indicated that the proximity in time
(three days) between Moreno’s attempt to break off the parties’ relationship and the
termination of her employment was sufficient, in and of itself, to raise a triable issue of

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fact as to whether her continued employment was tied to her continued relationship with
Ostly.
         Here, Ostly tries to expand the law of malicious prosecution to individual
allegations within a cause of action. He attempts to accomplish this by, in effect, arguing
that a malicious prosecution claim can spring from an unsupported allegation within a
cause of action, even when the cause of action as a whole is supported by probable cause.
This approach is inconsistent with numerous authorities. (See, e.g., Soukup, supra, 39
Cal.4th at p. 292 [to foreclose a malicious prosecution claim, “[p]robable cause . . . must
exist for every cause of action advanced in the underlying action”]; Videotape Plus,
supra, 89 Cal.App.4th at p. 161 [“To preclude a later claim of malicious prosecution, a
plaintiff must have probable cause for each cause of action it alleges against a
defendant.” (Italics added.)]; Wilson v. Parker, Covert & Chidester (2002) 28 Cal.4th
811, 824 [“Denial of a defense summary judgment motion on grounds that a triable issue
exists . . . establishes that the plaintiff has substantiated, or can substantiate, the elements
of his or her cause of action . . . .”] (italics added).)
         Therefore, like the trial court, we conclude Ostly has failed to show that the denial
of his motion for summary judgment was obtained through false evidence.
Consequently, the denial of his summary judgment motion in the underlying action
operates as a conclusive presumption of probable cause to commence and maintain
Moreno’s lawsuit. The trial court therefore correctly granted respondent attorneys’ anti-
SLAPP motions.8
         F. Omura and Respondent Attorneys Are Entitled to Fees and Costs
         As we noted at the outset, the trial court awarded Omura and respondent attorney
fees and costs. Ostly appeals the attorney fee rulings only insofar as it is dependent on

         8
        Because we have concluded Omura was not a proper malicious prosecution
defendant, we do not discuss the merits of Ostly’s malicious prosecution claim against
her. However, we emphasize the analysis used to uphold the trial court’s grant of
respondent attorneys’ anti-SLAPP motion is relevant to Omura as well.

                                                16
the granting of Omura and respondent attorneys’ anti-SLAPP motions. He does not
otherwise challenge the determination of fees and costs.
       Pursuant to section 425.16, subdivision (c), Omura and respondent attorneys are
also entitled to recover their attorney fees and costs on appeal in an amount to be
determined by the trial court. (Tuchscher Development, supra, 106 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1249; Dove Audio, Inc. v. Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 777, 785
[“Since section 425.16, subdivision (c) provides for an award of appellate attorney fees
and costs to a prevailing defendant on a special motion to strike, and does not preclude
recovery of appellate attorney fees by a prevailing defendant-respondent, those fees are
recoverable. [Citation.]”].)
                                            IV.
                                     DISPOSITION
       The orders granting the special motions to strike and awarding fees and costs are
affirmed. The matter is remanded to the trial court to determine the amount of attorney
fees and costs on appeal to be awarded to the respondent attorneys and Omura.

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                                 _________________________
                                 RUVOLO, P. J.

We concur:

_________________________
REARDON, J.

_________________________
RIVERA, J.

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