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SLAUSON PARTNERSHIP et al., Plaintiffs and Respondents,
v.
RICHARD OCHOA, Defendant and Appellant.
No. B162900
In the Court of Appeal of the State of California
Second Appellate District
Division Seven
(Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BC 272863)
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles
County. George Wu, Judge. Affirmed.
COUNSEL
Reich, Adell, Crost & Cvitan, J. David Sackman and
Carlos Perez, for Defendant and Appellant.
Roger John Diamond for Plaintiffs and Respondents.
Filed October 23, 2003
Richard Ochoa (Ochoa) appeals from an order denying
his special motion to strike plaintiffs' complaint under Code
of Civil Procedure [FOOTNOTE 1] section 425.16. [FOOTNOTE 2]
He contends that free speech activities in protest of an adult
strip theater at plaintiffs' mini-mall are protected by the California
Constitution's free speech clause, which allows access to privately
owned commercial facilities open to the public for purposes of
expressive activity ( Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Center
(1979) 23 Cal.3d 899). Furthermore, he argues that because
the standards for obtaining an injunction and prevailing on an
anti-SLAPP motion are distinct, the trial court's entry of an
injunction against him confining his activities to a public sidewalk
cannot be the basis of the denial of his motion to strike.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
We recite the relevant facts. Plaintiff Slauson Partnership
(Slauson) is the owner of a mini mall in Pico Rivera (Mall).
In January 2002, Slauson leased a portion of the premises to
LeRoy Smith, Glenn Smith, and SGRL Investments, Inc. (collectively
Smith). Smith opened a club offering nude entertainment known
as Imperial Showgirls (the Club). [FOOTNOTE 3]
The Mall covers approximately 1.26 acres and there are
public driveways and sidewalks on all four sides of the lot.
The Mall has 16 different-sized leaseable units. Thirteen of
the rental units are in a horizontal single-story building with
a private sidewalk approximately 13 feet wide in the front. The
other three units are detached and located in the parking lot.
The Club occupies four units in the center of the main building.
Ochoa is the Pastor of the Lord's Vineyard (Church),
a church located in Pico Rivera near the club. The Church has
a membership of about 200, and most members of the Church live
within a two-mile radius of the Church. In late February 2002,
Ochoa learned that the Club, an adult strip club featuring nude
entertainment, had opened in a nearby mall. The Club is located
about 1,000 feet from the Church.
Upon learning of the Club's presence, on March 1, 2002,
Ochoa organized and held a prayer meeting of Church members.
Immediately after the prayer meeting, the Church members walked
to the location of the Club to protest its opening. Prior to
this protest, the Church had notified the local Sheriff's Department
of their intent to protest at the Mall.
As a result of the Church's ongoing protests at the
Club, on April 29, 2002, Smith filed a complaint for injunctive
relief against Ochoa and Does 1 through 5000 to enjoin the protest
activities of Ochoa and the Church at the Mall. Smith alleged
that Ochoa and the Church were harassing and intimidating the
tenants, employees of tenants, and customers of tenants of the
Mall. Smith alleged that the defendants had obstructed access
to parking, shouted at patrons of the Mall, "congregate[d]
on the property so as to preclude the businesses from functioning,
march[ed], scream[ed], and refuse[d] to leave." The complaint
requested injunctive relief enjoining Ochoa from coming onto
the Mall property and restricting their protesting to the public
sidewalk. The complaint also sought damages and attorneys' fees,
but those requests were later withdrawn.
The complaint further alleged that "[i]f Defendants
wish to protest any business at the strip mall they should do
so in an orderly fashion from the sidewalk leaving appropriate
spaces for patrons of the businesses at the strip mall to be
able to enter the parking area and patronize the various businesses."
Smith alleged that it was suffering irreparable injury as a result
of defendants' conduct and was in danger of losing tenants.
Defendant moved to strike the complaint pursuant to
section 425.16. In support of the motion, Ochoa submitted his
own declaration, and the declarations of two tenants at the Mall,
Yithan Chau (Chau) and Elva Ruiz (Ruiz), and requested the trial
court take judicial notice of the federal action.
The Ochoa Declaration stated that the opening of the
Club had been controversial in Pico Rivera, and the Club was
located in a primarily residential area. City officials had attempted
to close the Club. The protests at the Mall were directed at
the Club only. Ochoa had personally attended "most of the
protests against the Club." Although he did not know all
of the protestors by name, it appeared to him based upon his
conversations with many of them that they were "middle-aged
residents of the City." Many were not associated with the
Church, and Ochoa did not know them personally. He admitted taking
a "semi-leadership role" in coordinating daily protest
activities, but he contended there were other churches and local
organizations participating in the protests. An additional aim
of the protests was to publicize the Club's violation of local
ordinances prohibiting lap dancing and permiting customers to
enter through a rear door.
Prior to initiation of the protests in March 2002, Ochoa,
LeRoy Smith, other protestors, and a representative of the local
Sheriff's Department sat down to establish "ground rules"
for the protests. Ochoa and the other protestors agreed not to
block any entrances to the property, not to block any parking
spaces, and not to interfere in any unlawful manner with any
of the businesses in the Mall. Ochoa handed out a flyer urging
protestors to be courteous and not to use noisemakers. At no
time has Ochoa observed or encouraged any unlawful conduct at
the protest site. He has avoided profanity, physical confrontations,
and any other conduct which might be considered un-Christian.
According to Ochoa, on the days that Ochoa had been
present at the protests at the Mall, protestors had peacefully
patrolled the sidewalk in front of the Club in an area away from
the entrance. On the first day of protests, about 300 people
showed up, but on average, there have been about eight to 15
protestors every day. The sidewalk is about 13 feet wide and
therefore has enough room for protestors to walk past patrons
without confrontation. Protestors generally carry signs that
are three feet by two feet, and do not hand out bills or leaflets.
Some protestors chant, but they do not use bullhorns or other
noisemakers because the local Sheriffs have asked the protestors
not to use them. Those protestors who are not "patrolling"
stand about 30 feet away from the Club in what is known as the
"safety zone," which does not incorporate any parking
spaces and does not block any cars. Because the Club is closed
during the day, protestors are generally there at night when
many of the tenants of the Mall are closed.
At no time has Ochoa or any of the other protestors
expressed an intent to harm anyone. The purpose of the protests
is to let the owners of the Club know that they are not welcome
in the area. That is why the protests are held in front of the
Club, and not on the sidewalk outside the Mall. The Club is only
a short walking distance from schools and churches in the community.
During the protests, the protestors have patronized many of the
shops in the Mall, including a donut shop, a haircutting salon,
and a 7-Eleven.
The local Sheriff's Department has sent over sheriffs
on a daily basis to supervise the protest activity, and to ensure
the safety and peace. If there had been any complaints or incidents,
the sheriffs would have intervened and put and end to the protesting.
So far, the sheriffs had monitored but not interfered with the
protestors' activities.
Prior to the commencement of the instant action, Ochoa
had never been contacted by the Mall's owners and asked to leave.
Slauson's property manager, Brian Gordon, once asked Ochoa if
he had a job or somewhere better to spend his time. Ochoa was
aware of no tenant displeased with the protest activity, other
than the owners of the Club. Ochoa understood the allegations
of the complaint to ask the protestors to stand on a public sidewalk
facing the boundaries of the Mall, which was about 100 feet from
the Club. Ochoa did not believe this would be safe as the sidewalk
was narrow and bordered a busy street. In addition, the public
might get the impression the protestors were calling for a general
boycott of the Mall, which was not the case.
According to Ochoa, the instant lawsuit had a "chilling
effect" in that several protestors had approached him and
expressed some concern that they, too, could be the targets of
a lawsuit. The number of protestors has dropped steadily since
April 30, 2002, the date Ochoa was served with the complaint.
The fact the complaint names 5000 "Doe" defendants
implies that Slauson will include as many protestors as possible.
The Declaration of Yithan Chau stated that he was the
owner of "Homestyle Donuts," located at the Mall. He
had witnessed some of the protest activity. No protestor had
interfered with his business, nor had he seen any protestor abuse
customers or engage in violence. Most of the protestors had been
friendly and peaceful. He has not observed any other tenant of
the Mall to ask the protestors to leave.
The Declaration of Elva Ruiz stated that she was the
owner of a beauty salon at the Mall. She had witnessed some of
the protest activity, and no protestor had interfered with her
business. She had not seen any protestor abuse any customer or
engage in any violence. Most of the protestors had been friendly
and peaceful. She was not concerned that the protest would interfere
with her business, and has not asked any protestors to leave.
In opposition to the motion to strike, Slauson submitted
the Declarations of Roger Jon Diamond (Diamond), LeRoy Smith,
and Brian Gordon (Gordon). These declarations paint a very different
picture.
Diamond, who is Slauson's attorney, personally attempted
to serve the complaint on Ochoa. Diamond described the scene:
"[Ochoa] was at the center along with a large group of persons
who were engaging in picketing, demonstrations, and so forth.
When I attempted to hand a copy of the Summons and Complaint
to Mr. Ochoa he refused to take them. I touched his hand with
the papers but he allowed them to drop to the floor. He then
walked by me and told me that he had not been served. I told
him that he had. He was not cooperative." Nonetheless, an
answer to the complaint was filed on behalf of Ochoa.
Diamond prepared a set of proposed Rules and Regulations
to govern protesting activity at the Mall, which were submitted
in connection with some interrogatories propounded to Ochoa.
In an attempt to resolve the matter, on June 28, 2002,
Diamond, Glenn Smith and LeRoy Smith met with Ochoa and Ochoa's
attorneys. The Smiths and Diamond made proposals concerning the
protesting. Instead of agreeing to any terms, Ochoa's attorneys
served Diamond with a motion to strike. Furthermore, according
to Diamond, Ochoa's terms for settlement were unreasonable. He
wanted to have at least 15 persons walking immediately in front
of the Club, and refused to agree that other persons could not
remain where they were presently "loitering and using the
property's electricity." This stance, in Diamond's opinion,
evidenced the fact that Ochoa was acting for more than just himself
and had the authority to control other person's actions. Furthermore,
if the lawsuit were only designed to harass, there would have
been no point to meeting with Mr. Ochoa.
Subsequent to the meeting, two of Ochoa's "henchmen"
were caught on videotape vandalizing LeRoy Smith's vehicle. The
Sheriff's Department arrested the two men and the videotape was
taken by the Sheriff's Department.
LeRoy Smith's Declaration stated that Ochoa's declaration
was misleading in that it attempted to create the impression
that the protests have been peaceful. LeRoy Smith has been at
the Mall every day since the Club opened. For the first three
months, Ochoa was there every day and in Smith's opinion was
the "organizer" of the protestors. In fact, Ochoa acknowledged
to Smith that he was the leader and organizer of the protesters.
Smith stated that since the Club opened, the protestors have
been protesting in a way that "exceeds reason." They
have engaged in vandalism, battery, theft and other criminal
activities. On March 15, 2002, as Smith drove his vehicle into
the parking lot, he was surrounded by protestors. Three of the
protestors stopped his vehicle and began beating on it. Smith
opened the door of his vehicle to get out and was attacked by
the protestors, who struck him. The protestors caused over $1,000
in damage to Smith's vehicle.
The protestors also vandalized the Club building, destroying
the locks to the entrance. It cost $275 to repair the locks.
Sometime in mid-June 2002, the protestors pulled up six vehicles
to the front of the theatre and leaned on their horns for approximately
15 minutes. The Club had to shut down because of the noise. Under
Ochoa's guidance, protestors ran up to patrons of the Club and
shouted in their faces. They ran up to vehicles driven by patrons
and refused to let them exit their vehicles. On average, there
are about 15 picketers who stand in front of the Club. Protestors
have placed signs in front of the Club announcing that it is
"closed." A photograph attached to Smith's Declaration
showed Ochoa at the Mall with a megaphone.
Gordon, the property manager for Slauson, stated that
since the Club opened, the protestors have literally "camped
out" at the Mall, bringing tables and chairs which they
set up in the center of the parking lot. The protestors have
plugged into electrical outlets, taking electricity from the
Mall. They take up many parking spaces and generally interfere
with the business of the Mall. Slauson would have allowed peaceful
protests on the Mall property, but given that the protestors
have engaged in vandalism and are stealing electricity, the Mall
does not want them there at all.
At the June 28, 2002, the Smiths offered to have five
peaceful protestors picketing, but insisted that other picketers
leave the property. The protestors were taking up parking spaces
and making life "miserable" for most of the other tenants.
Slauson does not want to lose the Club as a tenant. Ochoa and
his group were attempting to intimidate the Club into leaving.
Ochoa objected to Slauson's evidence on the grounds
it lacked foundation, was conclusory, consisted of hearsay, and
violated the confidentiality of the settlement conference. [FOOTNOTE
4]
At a hearing held July 31, 2002, the parties stipulated
to an injunction. The injunction provided in relevant part that
a limited number of protestors could be present (starting with
five and increasing to 12 after September 3, 2002) on the 13-foot
wide private sidewalk, they would remain more than eight feet
from the Club, they would only protest when the Club was open,
they would remain a certain distance from the Club, they could
not engage in physical contact with any patrons or employees
of the Club, there would be no use of bullhorns, no shouting
and no sitting. Only "normal polite protest conduct"
would be allowed. Ochoa would maintain a list of the persons
who would comprise the authorized protestors, the list would
be maintained for seven days and Ochoa would make it available
to the court or the sheriff's department upon request. Slauson
would be entitled to eject those persons not on the list, and
Slauson would be entitled to videotape the Mall and would be
required to maintain the videotape for seven days. Protestors
would not be permitted on the Mall premises when they were not
protesting or patronizing businesses at the Mall. The injunction
did not restrict activity on the public sidewalks bordering the
Mall. The injunction was to remain in effect for two months,
a further hearing date was set for October 3, 2002, and the motion
to strike was continued. The injunction was signed by the court
on August 15, 2002.
On September 3, 2003, Slauson returned to court to seek
a modification of the injunction. Two protestors had been arrested.
A videotape was played for the court of events occurring on August
20, 2002. The videotape depicted conduct from August 1, 2002,
to August 16, 2002, and showed protestors on the private sidewalk
"constantly yelling and shouting," "periodically
blowing whistles in front of the theater loudly enough that the
nose could be heard inside the club despite the high volume music
that was being played therein." Protestors were shown marching
inside the eight-foot limit, there were more than five protestors
on the sidewalk, and sometimes there were additional protestors
in the parking lot. Ochoa brought video cameras onto the Mall
premises to videotape patrons of the Club. [FOOTNOTE 5]
Ochoa argued that the activities depicted on the tape
were in conformity with the stipulated injunction. Ochoa contended
that not all of the people depicted in the videotape were under
his control. The trial court noted that it observed yelling and
harassment. The court took the matter under submission, but before
doing so limited the number of protestors to five.
On September 12, 2002, a hearing was held and another
video was played for the court. This videotape depicted protestors
continuing to shout and blow whistles, although most of the protestors,
but not all, were now stationed on the public sidewalk. However,
the protestors were engaging in the noisemaking activity well
past midnight. The protestors were placing their video cameras
on the private sidewalks with signs that read, "You are
being videotaped, it can be used against you in a court of law."
Ochoa then testified that he believed LeRoy Smith was
angry because of the lack of business at the Club and was attempting
to instigate an altercation with the protestors. With respect
to protestors depicted on the tape yelling from the sidewalk,
Ochoa denied having any control over their activities. Ochoa
admitted he had taken a leadership position to the extent that
he keeps a list of the authorized protestors. The only person
who would be in a greater leadership role was "God Almighty
Himself." Ochoa admitted, however, that he had told the
protestors they could protest from the sidewalk.
The trial court found that the stipulated injunction
did not limit protestors on the public streets surrounding the
Mall. The videotapes showed that "on many occasions the
preliminary injunction was violated by loud and raucous shouting
by the protestors." More than five protestors had gathered,
made confrontational approaches to patrons in violation of the
eight-foot limit, videotaped patrons entering the Club, and parked
cars at the Mall. The court noted that it was disturbed to observe
on the latest video that protestors were shouting and whistling
past midnight, which the court found unreasonable.
Brian Gordon testified that the Mall covered 1.2 acres.
The driveway entrance to the Mall is approximately 250 to 300
feet away from the Club. There are two entrances to the Club.
There are approximately 150 to 200 parking spaces. If a protestor
wanted to communicate with a patron of the Club, it would be
possible to do so from the driveway. Slauson has received numerous
complaints from other tenants in the Mall since the protests
began concerning the protestors and the amount of traffic. The
protestors occupy a lot of the parking, and one tenant asked
for a rent abatement because of the parking problem. The Club
is open from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
The court noted that the case presented a "delicate
balance between competing first amendment rights and property
rights" and that the protestors wanted to express their
disapproval of the adult entertainment at the Club, while the
Club owners had their own First Amendment rights to present such
entertainment. The first issue raised by the circumstances was
the extent to which the property fell with in the public forum
situation of Robins, and the recent cases of Costco v.
Gallant and Trader Joe' s. [FOOTNOTE 6] The second issue raised
was the extent to which the message of the protestors could be
presented as effectively elsewhere. The court noted that the
protests were site specific, i.e., directed at the Club, and
in that fashion the case was similar to an abortion clinic. A
third issue was the extent to which the private property fell
within the public forum of Robins and the extent to which
the private property owner could limit the expression by imposing
reasonable regulations on the protestors while they were on Mall
property. The last issue was the scope of the trial court's power.
Even if the court concluded the protestors were on private property
and they were in fact harassing patrons, there were questions
about the court's ability to impose restrictions in terms of
conduct and location.
The court continued the matter to September 20, 2002,
and stated that it would consider the tabled motion to strike
at the same time.
At the continued September 20, 2002 hearing, the court
announced that it would hear the motion to strike first. A motion
to strike entails a two-part test: first, the defendant must
establish that the defendant's conduct falls within the protections
of the anti-SLAPP statute, and second, the plaintiff must establish
they have a probability of success on the merits. The court noted
that the first prong had been met, and that the parties did not
contest that issue, and on the second prong, the plaintiffs have
established a probability of success. The court noted that Ochoa
had clearly violated the terms of the injunction, and if there
was not an orderly protest, the court could modify the injunction
to exclude Ochoa from the Mall property. The court noted that
Ochoa did not just want to protest, they wanted the Club to leave
the Mall, and that the protestors would do almost anything short
of activities that would subject them to arrest to accomplish
that purpose. During argument on the motion, the court pointed
out that if Ochoa had honored the terms of the injunction, the
parties would not be before the court.
The parties disputed whether Slauson could amend its
complaint subsequent to the filing of the motion to strike to
remove the allegations of damages, and disputed whether only
pre-complaint or post-complaint evidence to be considered in
ruling on the motion. Ochoa contended that in order to prevail
on the second prong, Slauson must prove its entitlement to damages.
Ochoa also objected to any evidence submitted in connection with
the injunction being used to evaluate the merits of the SLAPP
motion.
Ochoa argued that the injunction could work well if
the parties followed the spirit of the injunction and the parties
communicated with each other. The injunction could be modified
to provide for mediation procedures to be followed out of court.
Slauson argued the only reasonable relief the court could grant
would be to exclude Ochoa from the property. Ochoa has demonstrated
that the protestors cannot live by a very reasonable injunction.
All of the cases governing the issue pertain to peaceful and
orderly protests, as distinguished from the circumstances of
the instant case. Thus, the court need not address the issue
of whether the Mall was public or private forum.
The court denied the motion to strike. The court also
modified the preliminary injunction to exclude the protestors
from the Mall, and set a hearing on a permanent injunction for
30 days following the hearing. During that time, if the protestors
demonstrated that they could behave and engage in peaceful protesting,
the court would allow them back into the Mall.
On October 11, 2002, the trial court issued a well-reasoned
and detailed written statement of decision. On the first prong
of the SLAPP motion, the court found that Ochoa's activities
were activities in furtherance of free speech rights and that
the opening and continued operation of the first adult entertainment
club in Pico Rivera was a matter creating intense public opposition
and media attention, satisfying the requirements of Code of Civil
Procedure section 425.16, subd. (e)(3), the first prong of a
SLAPP motion.
On the second prong, probability of success on the merits,
the trial court found that although Ochoa's activities were in
furtherance of free speech rights, the stipulated injunction
contained reasonable time, place and manner restrictions and
therefore it was reasonably probable that Slauson would prevail
on the merits. In reaching this result, the trial court found
that Slauson had withdrawn its damages and attorneys' fees claim
and rejected Ochoa's argument that Slauson was required to establish
damages. Furthermore, although free speech activity may be required
on property open to the public pursuant to Robins v. Pruneyard
Shopping Center, supra, 23 Cal.3d at pp. 908-911 ,Slauson
had established that it would be entitled to an injunction denying
Ochoa all access to the property because speech may be limited
on property where public access is restricted, based on Golden
Gateway Center v. Golden Gateway Ten ants Association (2001)
26 Cal.4th 1013, 1022-1031. Based upon the nature of the site,
Slauson had only invited the public to the Mall for the purposes
of purchasing goods, rather than to stroll about and congregate,
dine, or meet other persons, as in Robins . The court
found that the original stipulated injunction comported with
the standards set forth in Robins, and Ochoa's violation
of that injunction's terms supported a modification barring all
access to the Mall, relying on two cases barring expressive activity
at single, stand-alone stores, Trader Joe's Co. v. Progressive
Campaigns, Inc. (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 425, 435, and Costco
Companies v. Gallant (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 740, 744.
The trial court reviewed the terms of the stipulated
injunction, and found it contained reasonable time, place and
manner restrictions. The court found that the "stipulation
was a generous accommodation by [Slauson] as to the protestors'
free speech interests especially in light of the evidence of
the protestors' prior interference with the operations of the
theater and the mall." On the other hand, when the parties
returned to court after the injunction went into effect, there
was evidence that the protestors had engaged in numerous and
continuous violations of the terms of the injunction, and interfered
with the Club's use of the premises. The court therefore granted
the request to modify the preliminary injunction to prohibit
all protest activity on the premises and limited access to the
Mall for the sole purposes of purchasing goods and services and
related activities.
DISCUSSION
Ochoa contends Slauson has failed to demonstrate a reasonable
probability it would prevail on the merits. First, this burden
cannot be met by showing it is entitled to an injunction because
an injunction is a remedy, not a cause of action. Furthermore,
the preliminary injunction was not based on the constitutional
balancing required for a restraint of speech, but a stipulation
of the parties; this injunction was modified upon a finding that
the protestors (not necessarily Ochoa) had violated the injunction.
Second, even reading a cause of action for trespass or nuisance
into the complaint, Slauson cannot demonstrate a reasonable probability
of success on the merits of those causes of action. As an evidentiary
matter, Slauson's conclusory declarations filled with hearsay
fail to establish the necessary showing because the scant amount
of evidence that is not hearsay either does not relate to Ochoa
or concerns events occurring after the complaint was filed.
Slauson argues that the Mall does not constitute a large,
regional shopping center such as that in Robins, but is
more akin to the stand-alone Costco stores, where free speech
activity could be banned. Furthermore, even if Ochoa had a right
to be present at the Mall, he and the other protestors forfeited
that right by their vandalism and disruptive behavior, and there
is substantial evidence in the record that Ochoa was the leader
of the protest group. Lastly, the trial court was not precluded
from relying on evidence of events occurring after the filing
of the complaint but prior to the hearing on the motion to strike.
I. THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ERR IN CONSIDERING POST-COMPLAINT
FACTS OR IN USING THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE STIPULATED INJUNCTION
TO RULE ON THE SPECIAL
MOTION TO STRIKE.
Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16, the anti-SLAPP
statute, provides that "[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 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." (Code Civ. Proc.,
§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1).) Under the statute 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 in connection
with an issue under consideration or review by a legislative,
executive, or judicial body, or any other official proceeding
authorized by law; (3) any written or oral statement or writing
made in a place open to the public or a public forum in connection
with an issue of public interest; (4) or any other conduct in
furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of petition
or the constitutional right of free speech in connection with
a public issue or an issue of public interest." (§
425.16, subd. (e).)
In evaluating an anti-SLAPP motion to strike, courts
employ a two-step analysis. First, the defendant must make a
prima facie showing that the lawsuit arises from the defendant's
exercise of free speech or petition. (Code Civ. Proc., §
425.16, subd. (b); Kajima Engineering & Construction,
Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (2002) 95 Cal.App. 4th 921, 928
(hereafter Kajima ).) The burden then shifts to the plaintiff
to show that there is a probability the plaintiff will prevail
on its claims. ( Church of Scientology v. Wollerscheim (1996)
42 Cal.App.4th 628, 654-655.) A "probably of prevailing
is established if the plaintiff presents evidence establishing
a prima facie case which, if believed by the trier of fact, will
result in a judgment for the plaintiff." ( Mattel, Inc.
v. Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th
1179, 1188.) Under section 425.16, subdivision (b)(2), the trial
court in making these determinations considers "the pleadings,
and supporting and opposing affidavits stating the facts upon
which the liability or defense is based." Our standard of
review of the trial court's ruling granting the motion to strike
is de novo. ( Kajima, supra , 95 Cal.App.4th at p. 929.)
Courts have noted that the second prong of a motion
to strike is akin to a summary judgment motion. ( Lam v. Ngo
(2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 832, 843.) Where a motion to strike
involves a preliminary injunction, the court's task in evaluating
the motion cannot be simply a "rerun of the preliminary
injunction question." ( Ibid. ) When ruling on a
preliminary injunction, the court considers "' the likelihood
that plaintiff will prevail at trial,' " while in ruling
on a motion to strike, the court must consider whether plaintiff
has "made a prima facie showing of facts which, if proved
at trial, support a favorable judgment." ( Ibid.) In
Lam, the plaintiff used the same evidence both for opposing
the motion to strike and for obtaining an injunction. Primarily
because the sole defendant was not involved in much of the tortious
conduct, the court found that there was no such prima facie showing,
although there was enough to support an injunction against the
protestors generally. ( Ibid.) Lam, however, does not
stand for the proposition (and does not itself purport to stand
for the proposition) that the factual showing for a preliminary
injunction can never be sufficient to defeat a motion
to strike. In the instant case, as we discuss infra, the
showing has been more than made.
Furthermore, nothing in the statute or case law suggests
that the factual analysis for ruling on the motion must be frozen
in time on the date the complaint is filed. We note that although
discovery is stayed until the notice of entry of the order ruling
on the motion, discovery may be conducted if good cause is shown,
and such discovery is limited to the issues raised in the special
motion to strike. The purpose of this limitation is only to further
the purposes of the special motion to strike, i.e., to minimize
the costs and burdens of unmeritorious litigation directed at
free speech rights. (§ 425.16, subd. (g); Mattel, Inc.
v. Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, supra, 99 Cal.App.4th
at p. 1189.)
Ochoa relies on Simmons v. Allstate Ins. Co. (2001)
92 Cal.App.4th 1068, which held that a complaint could not be
amended after a motion to strike is filed, for the proposition
that evidence occurring after the complaint cannot be used to
oppose the motion. Allstate sued its insureds alleging an insurance
scam arising from fraudulent, inflated and exaggerated medical
bills, the performance of unnecessary treatments, the use of
unlicensed physical therapists, and the like. Allstate sought
injunctive relief and disgorgement of unlawful profits under
the Unfair Practices Act (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200
et seq.). The insureds cross-complained, alleging defamatory
conduct on Allstate's part. ( Simmons v. Allstate Ins.
Co., supra, at pp. 1070-1071.) Allstate brought motion to strike
the cross-complaint; at the hearing on the motion, the insureds
asked for leave to amend their cross-complaint, arguing that
a SLAPP motion was akin to a demurrer and leave to amend should
be liberally granted. ( Id. at pp. 1072-1073.) Simmons
denied leave to amend on the grounds that a SLAPP motion was
more like a summary judgment motion because of the evidentiary
showing required and the shifting burdens. ( Id. at p.
1073.) The SLAPP statute itself made no provision for permitting
amendments, and as a policy matter, permitting amendments once
the initial prima face showing has been made would undermine
the statute. "Instead of having to show a probability of
success on the merits, the SLAPP plaintiff would be able to go
back to the drawing board with a second opportunity to disguise
the vexatious nature of the suit through more artful pleading.
. . . [¶ ] By the time the moving party would be able to
dig out of this procedural quagmire, the SLAPP plaintiff will
have succeeded in [the] goal of delay and distraction and running
up the costs of his opponent." ( Id. at pp. 1073-1074.)
Because further development of the factual record is
contemplated by the anti-SLAPP statute, and not expressly prohibited
by it, we find that it was not error for the trial court to rely
on evidence of events occurring subsequent to the filing of the
complaint. Simmons is also distinguishable be cause Ochoa,
not the SLAPP suit plaintiff, is the one "amending"
the facts with his egregious conduct. Indeed, to hold otherwise
would permit Ochoa to circumvent the purposes of the very motion
which he has brought. He could obtain a false victory in the
trial court based on phony compliance with the injunction, and
then flout its terms (as he did here), which would result in
the necessity of the other party proceeding with the expenses
of discovery and the filing of additional motions in order to
curtail the objectionable behavior. This is hardly speedy or
cost-effective.
II. SLAUSON DEMONSTRATED ITS ENTITLEMENT TO AN INJUNCTION
AND THUS DEMONSTRATED IT HAD A REASONABLE PROBABILITY OF PREVAILING
ON THE MERITS.
In Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Center, supra, 23
Cal.3d 899, the California Supreme Court held that solicitation
of signatures on a petition to the government at a privately
owned shopping center was an activity protected by the California
Constitution. [FOOTNOTE 7] (Id. at p. 902.) The shopping
center in Robins covered 21 acres, five of which were
devoted to parking, the other 16 of which had walkways, plazas
and buildings containing 65 shops, 10 restaurants, and a cinema.
The shopping center had a policy of not permitting the circulation
of petitions or other public expressive activity that was not
directly related to commercial purposes. The plaintiffs in Robins
set up a card table in a corner of the mall's center courtyard
and sought to discuss their concerns and solicit signatures for
a petition to be sent to the White House. They were peaceful
and they were well-received by the patrons of the shopping mall.
Nonetheless, security guards employed by the shopping mall asked
them to leave. ( Id. at p. 902.)
Robins noted that "[s]hopping centers to
which the public is invited can provide an essential and invaluable
forum for exercising [free speech] rights." ( Robins
v. Pruneyard Shopping Center, supra, at p. 910.) Therefore,
Robins found the California Constitution conferred greater free
speech rights than the federal Constitution, declining to apply
the rationale of Lloyd Corp. v. Tanner (1972) 407 U.S.
551 that private property owners could in all instances exclude
expressive activity where there were alternative avenues for
that activity. ( Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Center, supra,
at pp. 904-905.) Instead, Robins relied on a long line of
California cases finding free speech rights on a private sidewalk
of a grocery store ( In re Lane (1969) 71 Cal.2d 872,
878), in front of a bakery in a shopping center that was the
subject of a labor dispute ( Schwartz-Torrance Investment
Corp. v. Bak ery & Confectionary Workers' Union (1964)
61 Cal.2d 766, 768), and at a railroad train station that contained
a restaurant, snack bar, cocktail lounge, and magazine stand
( In re Hoffman (1967) 67 Cal.2d 845, 852-853).
Robins found that private property interests
must be balanced against free speech rights of peaceful expression.
( Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Center, supra, at pp. 910-911.)
"By no means do we imply that those who wish to disseminate
ideas have free rein. We noted above Chief Justice Traynor's
endorsement of time, place and manner rules. ( In re Hoffman,
supra, 67 Cal.2d at pp. 852-853.) . . . ' As a result of advertising
and the lure of a congenial environment, 25,000 persons are induced
to congregate daily to take advantage of the numerous amenities
offered by the [shopping center there]. A handful of additional
orderly persons soliciting signatures and distributing handbills
in connection therewith, under reasonable regulations adopted
by defendant to assure that these activities do not interfere
with normal business operations [citation].' " ( Robins
v. Pruneyard Shopping Center, supra, 23 Cal.3d at pp. 910-911,
citing Di amond v. Bland (1974) 11 Cal.3d 331, 345, dis.
opn. of Mosk, J.)
In Golden Gateway Center v. Golden Gateway Tenants
Assn., supra, 26 Cal.4th 1013, the court addressed the unanswered
question of Robins: " whether California's free speech
clause protects against only state action or also against private
conduct." ( Id. at p. 1020.) Golden Gateway addressed
this issue in the context of whether a tenant's association had
the right to distribute its newsletter in a privately owned apartment
complex. ( Id. at p. 1016.) The complex at issue consisted
of four high-rise apartment buildings containing 1,254 units.
There were retail establishments on the ground floor of the complex,
but they were separate from the residential units and did not
have access to the residential portion of the complex. There
were 24-hour roving security patrols, and building policy banned
solicitation in the complex. ( Id. at pp. 1016-1017.)
In 1982, a group of tenants had formed a tenants' association
and for 11 years had distributed a newsletter without objection
from the manager of the complex. However, in 1993, the manager
asked the association to stop distributing the newsletters, citing
the prohibition against solicitation in the buildings. After
some discussion, the parties agreed that the tenants' association
could distribute the newsletters under the apartment doorways
provided it was done in "a reasonable manner." The
parties, however, did not discuss what "a reasonable manner"
entailed. In 1995, the landlord hired a new building manager.
The new manger asked the tenants association to scale back its
newsletters. Thereafter, a new policy was issued that completely
banned the newsletters. However, the tenants' association continued
to distribute its newsletter. The landlord filed a complaint
seeking an injunction and declaratory relief, and the tenants
association cross-complained. ( Id. at pp. 1017-1018.)
Golden Gateway noted that while under the federal
Constitution the tenants' association had no right to distribute
its newsletter (see, e.g., Hudgens v. NLRB (1976) 424
U.S. 507, 519-520 [union picketers had no federal constitutional
free speech rights to expressive activities at privately owned
shopping mall because actions of the owner of privately-owned
shopping did not constitute state action]; Lloyd Corp. v.
Tanner, supra, 407 U.S. 551 at p. 570 [political leafletters
had no federal constitutional free speech right in privately-owned
shopping mall], under the California Constitution the matter
was a different question because the California Constitution
was more definitive and inclusive than the federal Constitution
(Cal. Const., art. I, sec. 2, subd. (a).) ( Golden Gateway
Center v. Golden Gateway Tenants Assn., supra, 26 Cal.4th at
p. 1019.) However, there was no state constitutional right to
distribute newsletters to the tenants of the complex. ( Id.
at p. 1022.) Golden Gateway reached this re sult after observing
that Robins had overlooked the state action requirement of the
California Constitution in reaching its result, and concluding
that the California Constitution contained a state action requirement.
( Id. at p. 1023.)
Nonetheless, although state action for purposes of California
constitutional analysis differed from that of the federal Constitution,
turning to the facts before it, Golden Gateway found no
state action could be found with respect to the complex because
the complex was not freely open to the public. ( Golden Gateway
Center v. Golden Gateway Tenants Assn. supra, 26 Cal.4th
at p. 1032.) In Robins, the court had relied on the fact
that shopping centers had become the equivalent of the town squares
of old. Shopping centers were open to the public and permitted
people to congregate freely, and thus Robins concluded
that the public character of the property was determinative of
the scope of the free speech clause. ( Id. at p. 1032.) Golden
Gateway concluded that "the actions of a private property
owner constitute state action for purposes of California's free
speech clause only if the property is freely and openly accessible
to the public." ( Id. at p. 1033.) Because the apartment
complex was privately owned and public access was restricted,
no state action existed. ( Id. at pp. 1033-1034.)
Because public access to the mall at issue is not restricted,
we must analyze to what extent Slauson may limit expressive activity
on its premises. Cases following the lead of Robins have
applied it in varying contexts. In Costco Com panies,
v. Gallant (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 740, retailer Costco operated
stand-alone stores where it prohibited all expressive activity.
At its stores that shared a parking lot with other retail businesses,
Costco placed limitations on expressive activity. These limitations
included a prohibition on all expressive activity on the 34 busiest
retail days of the year and that expressive activity could not
be conducted for more than five days during any 30-day period.
Only three participants could be on the premises at any one time,
and the premises could not be used on weekends. ( Id. at
pp. 743-744.) The defendants used Costco locations to collect
signatures on referenda and petitions and to register voters.
They preferred Costco stores because the stores only had one
entrance and exit, and such stores are more productive for signature
gathering than stores with multiple avenues for ingress and egress.
( Id. at p. 744.) After there were difficulties enforcing
these regulations, Costco commenced an action for injunctive
and declaratory relief against the defendants, and the defendants
cross-claimed, seeking a judgment invalidating Costco's regulations.
( Id. at p. 744.)
Costco presented extensive evidence of the costs imposed
upon it by the defendants. Furthermore, there was evidence of
numerous customer complaints that because the customers were
paying a fee to be a member of Costco, they felt they did not
have to be subjected to people who were petitioning. Costco received
complaints from some customers that the petition gatherers were
following them into the parking lot, would not take "no"
for an answer, and would continue to pursue the customers. (
Costco Companies v. Gallant, supra, 96 Cal.App.4th at
pp. 750-751.) Costco employees were verbally and physically abused
by petition gatherers when they asked the petition gatherers
to obey the regulations. There was a concern about escalation
in behavior, as people were driving by with automatic rifles
pointed at the petitioners. Some of the petitioners expected
that Costco was obligated to provide them with protection. Competing
groups of petition gatherers would argue with each other. ( Id.
at pp. 751-752.)
The court found this evidence established interference
with Costco's business operations and potential liability claims
from customers, employees, and the petition gatherers. ( Costco
Companies v. Gallant, supra, at p. 753.) Costco's regulations
were a reasonable attempt to accommodate the petitioners' free
speech rights and its interests in running its business smoothly
and profitably. The busiest days of the year rule was a narrowly
tailed attempt to preserve ingress and egress on those days when
it was busiest. The five days out of 30 rule was an attempt to
avoid monopolization of the store site by particular groups.
( Id. at pp. 753-754.) The court also upheld the prohibition
on all activity at stand-alone stores. Because the public was
invited to Costco solely for the purpose of purchasing goods,
rather than to dine or congregate, expressive activity could
be prohibited consistent with Robins. The customers of
a Costco stand-alone store had no ability to avoid petition gatherers,
thus placing Costco at risk of being identified with the petition
gatherers' causes. ( Id. at p. 755.)
In Trader Joe's Co. v. Progressive Campaigns, Inc.,
su pra, 73 Cal.App.4th 425, Trader Joe's obtained an injunction
to halt petitioning activity outside its store in Santa Rosa.
The store was a "free-standing modest retail store and parking
lot," and defendants, who were seeking signatures on initiative
petitions, blocked ingress and egress to and from the store,
and harassed and intimidated patrons and employees of Trader
Joe' s. ( Id. at p. 427.) Trader Joe's sought to distinguish
itself from the regional shopping center in Robins on
the grounds that its store was not part of a shopping center,
was a small store, had only one entrance, and a parking lot that
only accommodated 68 vehicles. ( Id. at p. 428.) The defendant
petitioners argued that Robins applied to permit their
activity because Trader Joe's was not an individual residence
or modest retail establishment. ( Id. at p. 429.)
Robins instructed that courts apply a balancing
test to the analysis, rather than a bright-line rule, and requires
courts to "balance the competing interests of the property
owner and of the society with respect to the particular property
or type of property at issue to determine whether there is a
state constitutional right to engage in the challenged activity."
( Trad er Joe's Co. v. Progressive Campaigns, Inc., supra,
at p. 433.) However, although Trader Joe's opened its store the
public, the invitation was more limited than the shopping center
in Robins. Trader Joe's invited people to come and shop
for food and food-related items; it did not invite them to meet
friends, eat, rest or be entertained. Thus, "Trader Joe's
interest in maintaining exclusive control over its private property
is stronger than the interest of a shopping mall owner."
( Ibid. ) Trader Joe's was a single-structure, single-use
store. It did not contain plazas, walkways, or a central courtyard
where patrons could congregate. In contrast to the shopping center
in Robins, Trader Joe's was not a public forum uniquely
suitable as a place to exercise free speech and petitioning rights,
and did not have a public character. ( Id. at pp. 433-434.)
Thus, free speech activity could be banned. ( Id. at p. 438.)
Lam v. Ngo, supra, 91 Cal.App.4th 832, involved
a video store in Westminster which placed a North Vietnamese
communist flag and a poster of Ho Chi Minh in its window. Large
numbers of Orange County's Vietnamese community were outraged
and demonstrated at the store. They demanded the support of local
politicians, including Garden Grove City Council member Tom Lam.
Lam, however, on the advice of his attorney "kept mum"
about the dispute. ( Id. at p. 837.) Because of his silence,
the protestors focused their wrath on Lam, and began to picket
his restaurant to demand that Lam resign his city council post.
The landlord Ngo, sympathetic to the protestors, allowed them
to gather in the parking lot. Lam filed a complaint naming Ngo
as the single defendant and obtained a restraining order prohibiting
the protestors from approaching within 20 feet of the entrance
and windows of the restaurant and from using bullhorns. Later,
a modified restraining order established a 50-foot buffer zone
in all directions from the perimeter around the parking lot.
Lam sought an injunction based upon declarations establishing
that prior to the issuance of the TROs, protestors physically
accosted prospective patrons and shouted epithets at them; slashed
tires and pounded on the cars of patrons; used bullhorns to disrupt
the meals of those customers who did manage to make it into the
restaurant; plastered posters and banners on the side of the
restaurant; urinated on the side of the restaurant; an 89-year-old
man was surrounded by 30 or 40 protestors who pounded on his
car causing $250 in damage; and some of the protestors attempted
to videotape or otherwise record the license numbers of patrons.
[FOOTNOTE 8] (Id. at p. 838.) The restaurant suffered
a 40 percent drop in business. The trial court granted an injunction
requiring the protestors to stay 900 feet away from the restaurant.
( Id. at p. 839.)
The protestors filed a motion to strike. Lam opposed
the motion using the same evidence used to support the TRO and
injunction. ( Lam v. Ngo, supra, at p. 845.) With respect
to Ngo, the sole named defendant, the court found that the injunction/TRO
evidence did not support Lam's opposition to the SLAPP motion
because of a lack of evidence that Ngo authorized, directed or
ratified the specific unprotected tort activity. The record contained
evidence that Ngo had approached a police officer on the first
day of the protest, identified himself as the organizer of the
protest, and assured the officer that he wanted a peaceful protest
and that the protestors would limit their activities to the public
sidewalk in front of the restaurant. ( Id. at p. 846.)
However, Ngo instructed the protestors not to take a copy of
the TRO when one of Lam's daughters attempted to serve it, and
at the time, Ngo was inside the buffer zone. The next day, Ngo
also violated the buffer zone, and when confronted by Lam's daughter,
made a rude gesture, took some pictures of her, and screamed
in Vietnamese the equivalent of "I will send these pictures
to Playboy magazine." ( Ibid. ) None of the other
wrongful conduct (slashed tires, posting of banners, intimidation
of customers) could be shown to have been ratified, authorized,
or directed by Ngo, and thus he was not liable in tort. ( Ibid.)
However, Lam did conclude that the conduct of the unnamed
Doe defendants who participated in violence was not protected,
and gave Lam leave to amend to substitute the names of the Doe
defendants. [FOOTNOTE 9]
In the instant case, our analysis starts with the fact
that because the Mall is private property, Slauson did have the
right to exclude persons from entering the Mall, and persons
who entered the property without its permission were trespassing.
[FOOTNOTE 10] (See, e.g., Church of Christ in Hollywood v.
Supe rior Court (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 1244, 1252 [essence
of trespass is unauthorized entry onto land of another].) However,
under the principles set forth in Robins, the Mall's right
to assert its property rights was not absolute, and our inquiry
does not end there. A balancing test is required to evaluate
the Mall owners' property rights against the protestors' free
speech rights. Lastly, we must consider whether free speech rights,
when expressed in a manner that is not peaceful and unobtrusive
to the property owner, may nonetheless be permitted on property
that is open to the public. To resolve these issues, we must
analyze the nature of the speech and the property in question.
With respect to the scope of speech rights, in the instant
case, Slauson argues that Trader Joe's controls, while Ochoa
contends that Lam is the relevant authority. Ochoa's argument
based upon Lam centers on the fact that the speech in
question was related to the site, i.e., protestors were protesting
Lam's failure to take a stand on the flag-display question. Depriving
Ochoa and the protestors access to the Mall would also deprive
him of the most effective place for the protestors' picketing,
i.e., right in front of the Club. Furthermore, in Lam, the
sole named defendant, Ngo, did not engage in most of the allegedly
wrongful conduct. Here, Ochoa contends he did not ratify, authorize
or direct the wrongful conduct of the other protestors. On the
other hand, Slauson relies on Trader Joe's because in
that case, the property owner was permitted to exclude all expressive
activity based upon the protestors' less-than-peaceable conduct
and the nature of the store as a stand-alone site.
Ochoa's argument ignores the fact that the Mall, although
a shopping center containing many stores, is a small property
with limited access, much like the stores in Costco and
Trader Joe' s, and generally invites the public only for the
purpose of purchasing goods. Yet unlike Costco and Trader
Joe' s, there is more than one store at the site and the stores
share parking; the Club is a place where patrons congregate,
but because the Club's entertainment is more like theatre and
is generally not as open to the public (it admits only those
persons over 18 and has hours that are different from the other
stores), it is more like a stand-alone store than a store within
a mall. Furthermore, although the Club is the target of the protests,
as was the store in Lam, that fact alone does not resolve
the issue where the protestors are less than peaceable. Indeed,
the tortious conduct of the protestors in the instant case is
strikingly similar to that of the protestors in Lam .
Thus, speech could be restricted on the Mall property consistent
with Robins , but given the fact that more than one store
was in the Mall, the protestors could not be completely barred
from the site.
The original stipulated injunction was an admirable
accommodation in this case, giving the protestors sufficient
access to the Mall given its multi-store layout, yet taking into
account the Mall's small size and limited purposes (mainly shopping).
Unfortunately, Ochoa and the other protestors abused the generous
access they had been given. There is no free speech right to
yell on bullhorns in an admittedly residential area at 12:30
in the morning, to accost and harass patrons of the Mall, and
to deface property. Furthermore, any contention that Ochoa resembles
the defendant in Lam in that he did not direct the wrongdoing
and did not engage in any himself is unsupported by the facts.
Ochoa admitted that he directed the protestors; he kept a list
of many of their names; and he negotiated the original stipulated
injunction, purportedly on their behalf. Furthermore, there is
ample evidence of wrongful conduct on his part, for example,
his use of a bullhorn.
We also reject Ochoa's contention that the evidence
[FOOTNOTE 11] on the preliminary injunction does not support
the denial of the motion to strike, or that the trial court failed
to consider the competing interests at stake because the injunction
was stipulated. Given the trial court's exhaustive statement
of decision, which analyzed the relevant cases in great detail,
weighed the parties' rights, and evaluated their conduct, we
do not understand how Ochoa can claim that the court did not
engage in the proper evaluations required under section 425.16
or Robins . Indeed, Ochoa did not challenge the stipulation
in court when he had an opportunity, instead enjoying generous
access to the property. As noted by the court at the hearing
to modify the injunction, if Ochoa and the other protestors had
abided by the terms of the injunction, no one would be in court.
Furthermore, because the evidence in the instant case on the
injunction was directly relevant to the motion to strike and
did not present the factual problems of Lam (weak evidence
of individual liability on the part of the named defendant),
we find no error in considering the same evidence for both the
motion to strike and the injunction.
DISPOSITION
The order of the superior court is affirmed. Respondents
are to recover their costs on appeal.
MUOZ (AURELIO), J. [FOOTNOTE *]
We concur: JOHNSON, Acting P.J., WOODS, J.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: FOOTNOTE(S):::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FN1. All statutory references herein are to the Code of Civil
Procedure unless otherwise noted.
FN2. Section 425.16 is known as the "anti-SLAPP"
statute and provides for the early dismissal of "strategic
lawsuits against public participation." ( Navallier v.
Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 85.)
FN3. Apparently, on January 10, 2002, sheriff's deputies and
other representatives of the City of Pico Rivera closed down
the Club for failing to obtain the required permit. (The City
of Pico Rivera prohibited all adult entertainment within its
boundaries.) Smith obtained a preliminary injunction in United
States District Court (federal action) permitting them to operate
the Club and restraining the City's attempts to shut it down.
The U.S. District Court expressly found that "non-obscene
live adult entertainment is expressive conduct permitted by the
First Amendment" and that the City's zoning ordinances concerning
the location of adult theatres in the City was unconstitutional.
Ochoa requested that the trial court take judicial notice of
the Order granting Smith's motion for preliminary injunction
in the federal action, but the record on appeal does not contain
a copy of the Order. The trial court's statement of decision
on the anti-SLAPP motion, however, references the substance of
the order.
FN4. On appeal, Ochoa asks this court to consider his evidentiary
objections to Slauson's declarations even though he concedes
he did not obtain any ruling on the objections in the trial court.
In connection with a summary judgment motion, "[t]rial courts
have a duty to rule on evidentiary objections. Part of the judicial
function in assessing the merits of a summary judgment or adjudication
motion involves a determination as to what evidence is admissible
and that which is not." ( City of Long Beach v. Farmers
& Merchants Bank (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 780, 784.) Where
the trial judge fails to rule on objections to evidence presented
at a summary judgment motion, the objections are deemed waived
on appeal. ( Sharon P. v. Arman, Ltd. (1999) 21 Cal.4th
1181, 1186, fn. 1, disapproved on other grounds by Aguilar
v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 853, fn.
19.) Accordingly, because a motion to strike is akin to a summary
judgment motion (see discussion infra ), in reviewing
the trial court's order denying the motion, we consider all the
evidence presented by the parties.
FN5. These descriptions of the videos are taken from the court's
statement of decision denying the SLAPP motion.
6. Trader Joe's Co. v. Progressive Campaigns, Inc. (1999)
73 Cal.App.4th 425, and Costco Companies v. Gallant (2002)
96 Cal.App.4th 740.
FN7. Article I, section 2 of the California Constitution provides:
"Every person may freely speak, write and publish his or
her sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse
of this right. A law may not restrain or abridge liberty of speech
or press."
FN8. The protestors did not stop there. They also "carried
drawings of Lam as a horned and fanged devil with blood dropping
down his mouth. They crafted a life-sized effigy of Lam tied
to a gallows next to a life-sized effigy of Ho Chi Minh; a bloody
axe bearing a South Vietnamese flag, coffin-like box, and the
slogan ' Down with the Communists' adorned their creation. The
protestors also created three-dimensional effigies of Lam and
Ho Chi Minh in lewd sexual positions across the street from the
restaurant." ( Lam v. Ngo, supra, at p. 838.)
FN9. Lam also concluded specifically that there could
be no tort liability for interference with economic advantage
or intentional infliction of emotional distress on grounds not
relevant to the instant case. ( Id. at pp. 847-849.)
FN10. The protestors' actions also constituted a nuisance,
among other possible torts suggested by the facts. (See, e.g.,
Newhall Land & Farming Co. v. Superior Court (1993)
19 Cal.App.4th 334, 341-342 [private nuisance is "anything
which is . . . an obstruction to the free use of property, so
as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property"
].) Because all of the cases discussing the issue of free speech
at privately owned shopping centers necessarily implicate the
private property rights of exclusive possession and ability to
exclude access, Ochoa's arguments in this regard are superfluous,
although technically well taken. (See, e.g., Roberts v. Los
Angeles County Bar Assn. (2003) 105 Cal.App.4th 604, 618
.) Hence, we do not address them at length; indeed, with
respect to any technical defects in the complaint, they are beyond
the scope of this appeal.
FN11. Because Ochoa's evidentiary objections are deemed waived
(see footnote [4], ante), we consider all of the evidence
presented before the trial court.
FN*. Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by
the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California
Constitution.
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