SUBJECT: Anti-SLAPP Motion

Moving Party: Defendant Mario Beltran

Resp. Party: Plaintiff From the Earth, LLC

Defendant’s anti-SLAPP motion is DENIED.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTS:

The issue presented here is simple: is an alleged extortion scheme protected by the anti-SLAPP statute. The answer is equally simple: No.

BACKGROUND:

“This action is based upon the tortious and corrupt conduct of the defendant City of Commerce illegally conspiring with a convicted felon and disgraced former Bell city councilmember, defendant Beltran, to develop a plan in which each would profit off the issuance of marijuana dispensary licenses in the city of Commerce. Specifically, defendant City of Commerce would grant or deny qualified cannabis business license applications based upon whether or not the applicants engaged the lobbying services of defendant Beltran, who in turn agreed to pay kickback [sic] to defendant City of Commerce's city council members. When Plaintiff would not agree to the illegal kickb