Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc. v. Cable News Network, Inc.

OPINION

McKEOWN, Circuit Judge:

This appeal — which tests the boundaries of multiple state laws and reveals tensions between California’s anti-discrimination law, on one hand, and its anti-SLAPP statute, on the other — boils down to two central questions: Does California’s anti-SLAPP statute, Cal.Civ.Proc.Code §§ 425.16 et seq., which permits a defendant to pursue early dismissal of meritless lawsuits arising from conduct by the defendant in furtherance of the right of petition or free speech, apply to a lawsuit seeking to secure equal access for the hearing-impaired by compelling Cable News…