Nicosia Consulting International, LLC v. Rees CA4/
Plaintiff and respondent Nicosia Consulting International, LLC (NCI) sued a former employee, defendant and appellant Harrison Rees, for damages on theories of defamation and intentional interference with contractual relations. NCI alleged that during his employment, Rees submitted a report to the Chula Vista Fire Department (the fire department) about his belief that NCI had installed some compressed natural gas fittings known as weld tees ("weld tees") at a Republic Services facility in Chula Vista, even though those weld tees were not in compliance with applicable manufacturing standards.
In response, Rees brought an anti-SLAPP special motion to strike the complaint, alleging his reporting conduct was protected or privileged. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16; Baral v. Schnitt (2016) 1 Cal.5th 376, 395 (Baral) [proper inquiry is whether plaintiff's claims allege protected activity for the purpose of asserting them as grounds for relief].)
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