The Firm Scores a Landscape-Changing Victory in an Anti-SLAPP Appeal

GERARD FOX LAW is proud to announce another high-profile win for its Appellate and Critical Motions Group in a lawsuit against the head of Sedgwick's Los Angeles cybersecurity practice. In an opinion that contains a “Reader Discretion Advised” warning, Abuemeira v. Stephens, 246 Cal. App. 4th 1291 (2016), the California Court of Appeal for the Second District unanimously rejected Sedgwick partner John Stephens' attempt to use California's anti-SLAPP statute to strike parts of Yasser and Daria Abuemeira’s defamation suit against him. Abuemeiras’ complaint seeks damages resulting from a roadside confrontation that turned physical. Abuemeiras allege that Stephens and his partner picked a fight on purpose as part of an insurance scheme. Stephens then edited a video recording of the incident and published it to third parties, including attendees at homeowner association meetings and to a television news reporter.

The GERARD FOX LAW Appellate and Critical Motions Group is built around an elite team of seasoned lawyers uniquely equipped for advocating on behalf of clients in the full spectrum of civil appeals. The Group is led by Marina Bogorad, whose handling of critical litigation matters consistently reflects an unmatched level of written scholarship and oral advocacy. She has a wide-ranging practice concentrating in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration. Ms. Bogorad’s representations include a number of high-profile disputes in U.S. trial and appellate courts, as well as before the International Chamber of Commerce, such as assisting in defense of the underwriters of Worldcom Inc. debt securities, representing Bratz dolls' owners in the intellectual property dispute with the Barbie-doll manufacturer, and assisting in defense of the original owners of MySpace.com in a shareholder dispute.