Mission Beverage Co. v. Pabst Brewing Co.

*694A brewer of beer decided to replace one of its distributors, and sent that distributor a letter terminating their distribution contract and invoking the statutory procedure requiring an existing distributor to negotiate and, if necessary, arbitrate with its successor to settle the "fair market value" of its distributorship rights ( Bus. & Prof. Code, § 25000.2 ).1 The ousted distributor sued the brewer for breaching the contract's termination-for-cause requirement and for declaratory relief. The brewer responded with a motion to strike the entire complaint under the anti-SLAPP2 statute ( Code…