Filed 10/25/22 Big Sky Ranch v. Morris CA2/6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION SIX BIG SKY RANCH 2d Civ. No. B310413 COMPANY LLC, (Cons. w/B312446) (Super. Ct. No. 56-2020- Plaintiff, Cross-Defendant 00541119-CU-FR-VTA) and Respondent, (Ventura County) v. JEFF MORRIS, et al., Defendants, Cross- Complainants, Appellants, and Cross-Respondents, FARHAD NOVIAN, Cross-Defendant, Respondent and Cross-Appellant. Appellant and cross-respondent Jeff Morris is a location scout who worked for nearly a decade at a well-known filming ranch owned by respondent Big Sky Ranch Company LLC (Big Sky).1 Big Sky terminated its relationship with Morris in November 2019 and later sued him for spreading purportedly false information about the ranch’s business operations. Morris cross-complained against Big Sky and its attorney, cross- appellant Farhad Novian, for breach of contract, emotional distress, and other causes of action arising from his termination. Morris moved to strike Big Sky’s complaint as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (“SLAPP”) meant to punish him for disclosing zoning and permitting issues at the ranch. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16.)2 The trial court denied the motion and awarded Big Sky attorney’s fees. Novian followed with his own anti-SLAPP motion contending Morris sued him for privileged actions taken as Big Sky’s attorney. The trial court denied his motion as well but did not award fees to Morris. Morris and Novian appeal. We affirm the trial court’s orders denying Morris’s motion and awarding attorney’s fees to Novian. We reverse the order denying Novian’s motion as to Morris’s cross-claim for intentional interference with potential economic advantage but affirm as to the remaining claims. FACTUAL BACKGROUND Big Sky Ranch Movie Ranch (ranch) owns several thousand acres of rural land near the city of Simi Valley. Its rolling hills and oak groves have served as a backdrop for hundreds of 1Morris identified cross-defendants I & J Partnership, LP, ICO Investment Group, Inc., Isaac Moradi, and Alexander Moradi as the owners of Big Sky and its assets, including the ranch property. They are not parties to this appeal. 2 We cite the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise noted. 2 Hollywood productions since the 1960s, most notably western- themed television shows such as Rawhide, Gunsmoke, and Little House on the Prairie. Morris is a veteran location scout who was engaged to promote the ranch in 2010 by Isaac Moradi, a co-owner of Big Sky. There was no written contract. Morris describes their arrangement as a partnership or joint venture that later developed into an employer-employee relationship. Big Sky describes it as a long-term consulting agreement. The parties agree Morris eventually moved onsite with his family and managed the ranch’s day-to-day business activities for Moradi. This included creating …
Original document
Source: All recent Immigration Decisions In All the U.S. Courts of Appeals