Winston v. Taxi Productions
Clifton Winston (Winston) brought this action for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Taxi Productions, Inc. (Taxi), 102.3 FM KJLH Radio Broadcasting (KJLH), Lawrence Williams (Williams), Janine Haydel (Haydel), Aundrae Russell (Russell), and Stevland Morris (Morris) (collectively defendants) after KJLH aired portions of a voicemail message the station received from an unknown caller.[1] Taxi and Williams appeal from an order denying their special motion to strike, brought pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 (section 425.16). Winston cross-appeals from the courts order granting the special motion to strike as to Haydel and Russell. Morris filed a separate special motion to strike which was granted and became the subject of a separate appeal. On our own motion, we consolidate the appeals.
Court find that Winston has not shown a probability of success on his claims of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) against the defendants. Therefore, we affirm the trial courts orders granting the special motions to strike filed by Haydel, Russell, and Morris, and we reverse the trial courts order denying the special motion to strike as to Taxi and Williams.
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