Court dismisses all state claims and clears the way for Los Angeles County to recover attorneys’ fees
Miller Barondess secured a significant victory on November 19, 2025, when Judge Gary D. Roberts granted the firm’s anti-SLAPP motion in former Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s state court case against the County of Los Angeles, dismissing all of Villanueva’s claims. Read coverage by the Daily Journal and the L.A. Times (subscriptions required).
(The case is Villanueva v. County of Los Angeles, et al., 25STCV16285 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 4, 2025). The Miller Barondess team includes Jason H. Tokoro, Steven G. Williamson, Ellie S. Ruth, and paralegal Scarlet Speakmoore.)
Villanueva originally filed suit in federal court (C.D. Cal. 2:24-cv-04979-SVW-JC) alleging constitutional violations, defamation, and emotional distress arising from a “Do Not Rehire” notation placed in his personnel file. The notation followed complaints by Inspector General Max Huntsman and Justice Deputy Esther Lim in 2022 alleging discriminatory harassment and retaliation. An independent investigation and the County Equity Oversight Panel substantiated the allegations. Villanueva claimed the County acted in retaliation for his public criticism of the Board of Supervisors and sought $25 million in damages.
In May 2025, the federal district court dismissed Villanueva’s constitutional claims on summary judgment, finding no evidence linking the County’s conduct to any constitutional violation. The court also upheld the County’s findings that Villanueva violated County policies through his harassment of Huntsman and Lim and awarded the County $60,000 in costs.
Villanueva then re-filed his suit in state court. The County responded with an anti-SLAPP motion and a demurrer to the complaint. Judge Roberts granted the anti-SLAPP motion in full, holding that Villanueva’s claims arose from protected speech and lacked even “minimal merit.” As a result, the County is entitled to seek its attorneys’ fees and costs from Villanueva.
“We are pleased that the Court agreed with the County that former Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s claims are barred by California’s anti-SLAPP statute and had no merit,” said lead counsel Jason H. Tokoro. “The County can now close this chapter, put Mr. Villanueva’s lawsuits behind it, and focus on the important issues facing the County.”