Flyers Unrelated To Labor Dispute Distributed During Strike May Survive Anti-SLAPP Motion.

Road Machinery’s union went on strike.  Jim Price, a vice president of the company did not have any role in the negotiations with the union. Yet, the union placed flyers on his neighbors’ doors, reading things like “Neighbors, beware of this man, Jim Price.” He sued the union for defamation. The Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s denial of the union’s anti-SLAPP motion. The court held that the flyers were not of public interest, Price was not a public figure, and the flyers were solely personal attacks on him. Therefore, the flyers were not speech protected under the statute. Price v. Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 (Cal. App. Third Dist.; May 20, 2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 962, [125 Cal.Rptr.3d 220, 2011 DJDAR 7321].