Bradbury v. Superior Court

In Bradbury v. Superior Court (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 1108, a deputy sheriff was investigated by a district attorney following a fatal shooting during the execution of a search warrant, after which the district attorney's office issued a report doubting the veracity of the deputy sheriff's search warrant affidavit. (Id. at pp. 1112-1113.) The deputy sheriff brought suit against the county, the district attorney, and the assistant district attorneys involved with the report, alleging a variety of claims, including defamation. (Id. at p. 1112.) The Court of Appeal reversed the denial of the defendants' anti-SLAPP motion, finding that the statements in the public report at issue were made in connection with an official investigation, and were protected activity under the anti-SLAPP statute on that basis. (Bradbury, supra, at p. 1119.)