Reynolds Frizzell partners Jean Frizzell, Jeremy Doyle, and Elizabeth Wilkerson secured a victory under the Texas “anti-SLAPP” statute for their clients: the highly regarded Daly & Black PC law firm and Andrew Dao, an attorney with the firm. The firm and Mr. Dao were sued for defamation in connection with statements made regarding a case they were handling.
The trial court granted a motion under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, dismissing the suit and awarding fees to our clients. On appeal, the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the suit and the award of legal fees, concluding that the plaintiffs had not established a prima facie case for the essential elements of their claims. Ms. Wilkerson was primarily responsible for the successful effort at the trial level. Melissa Wray Bostwick, then of Daly & Black and now of Wray Willis LLP, contributed significantly to the appellate effort.