Guzzetta v. City of DesertHot Springs
In this appeal, Joseph P. Guzzetta, the former city manager of the City of Desert Hot Springs (the City), challenges the trial court's dismissal of his lawsuit against the City, and its mayor, Matt Weyuker. Specifically, Guzzetta challenges the trial court's (i) sustaining of a demurrer to Guzzetta's cause of action for violation of the False Claims Act (Gov. Code, 12650, 12653, subd. (b)) on the ground that Guzzetta did not give the City notice of the claim as required under Government Code section 905; and (ii) striking of Guzzetta's remaining causes of action for defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and a violation of the Labor Code, under the anti-SLAPP statute, Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 (section 425.16), which requires dismissal of meritless claims that would penalize an exercise of protected free speech rights.
Guzzetta contends that the trial court erred in sustaining the demurrer to his False Claims Act cause of action because the cause of action fell within an exception to the Government Code's notice of claim requirements. He also argues that the court's anti-SLAPP ruling was erroneous because the defamatory statements at issue did not constitute a valid exercise of free speech rights, and because he demonstrated a probability of prevailing on the stricken claims.
As discussed below, Court's evaluation of these contentions reveals them to be without merit. Consequently, Court affirm the judgment.
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