On June 24, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied an anti-SLAPP motion filed by former Beverly Hills High School journalism teacher Romeo Carey, allowing defamation claims made by former Beverly Hills Unified School District administrator Mark Mead against Carey to move forward.
California’s anti-SLAPP law allows defendants to seek early dismissal of lawsuits arising from constitutionally protected speech. However, judge Michael E. Whitaker ruled that Mead presented sufficient evidence to show his claims have at least “minimal merit,” the legal standard required for the case to proceed.
The June 24 ruling does not determine whether Mead’s allegations are ultimately true. Instead, it allows the claims against Carey to continue through the litigation process…