SLAPP: Even Where Prevailing Defendant Had No Personal Obligations To Pay Fees To Counsel, $14,850 SLAPP Fee Award Was Still Allowable Under California Law

Also, Trial Judge Did Reduce The $23,650 Fee Ask Down To $14,850.

               Plaintiff lost a defamation action based on defendant’s successful anti-SLAPP motion, with the lower court awarding mandatory fees of $14,850 (which was lower than the $23,650 “ask” of the defendant).  The award was affirmed on appeal in Tye v. Papp, Case No. E080245 (4^th Dist., Div. 2 Oct. 10, 2024) (unpublished).  Plaintiff’s primary argument was that defendant owed no or little money to the defense attorney under their financial arrangement, but that argument was rejected because California law holds otherwise.  (See Lolley v. Campbell, 28 Cal.4^th 367, 373 (2002).)