SLAPP: $14,037.27 SLAPP Fees/Costs Award Reversed And Remanded Because Appellate Court Found One Claim Should Not Be Granted

Trial And Appellate Fees/Costs Remanded To The Trial Court, Given Cross-Defendants’ Partial Success.

               Wald v. Martin, Case Nos. B335960 et al. (2d Dist., Div. 6 June 16, 2025) (unpublished), illustrates how a partial reversal of a SLAPP grant generally leads to a reversal and remand of the subsequent fees/costs award to a prevailing defendant or cross-defendant.  That is what happened.  Cross-complainant’s complaint was SLAPPed in entirety, with the cross-defendant winning $14,037.27 in mandatory fees and costs under the SLAPP statute.  However, on appeal, cross-complainant obtained reversal of a SLAPP grant on one claim, enough to require a restudy of fees/costs (both trial and appellate) to the partially successful cross-defendant.  (Maleti v. Wickers, 82 Cal.App.5^th 181, 232-233 (2022).)