Fox Searchlight Pictures

Upon learning its former in-house counsel planned to sue for wrongful termination of employment, the company struck first by suing its former counsel for disclosing confidential and privileged information to the attorneys handling her wrongful termination case. The former in-house counsel moved to strike the company's complaint as a SLAPP suit. *fn1 The company responded with motions to disqualify the attorneys representing its former counsel on the ground they possessed confidential and privileged information belonging to the company and material to the issues between the parties. The trial court denied the SLAPP motion and the motions to disqualify counsel. Both sides appealed.