Attorney Fees Incurred By Law Firm, Redux.

Lawyers sued client for fees.  Client cross-complained. Lawyers brought anti-SLAPP motion to strike cross-complaint. (Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16.) The trial court granted the motion to strike and awarded attorney fees to the lawyers. The appellate court, relying on case law holding attorneys may not recover fees for self-representation, reversed the award of fees after concluding the lawyer who worked on the motion, while he was paid in a manner different than regular law firm employees, and may have been considered an independent contractor for tax purposes, was not separate counsel for purposes of attorney fees under the anti-SLAPP statute.  (Ellis Law Group, LLP v. Nevada City Sugar Loaf Properties, LLC (Cal. App. Third Dist.; October 3, 2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 244, [178 Cal.Rptr.3d 490].)