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John Travolta Denied Dismissal of Suit By His Former Pilot
It will take more than an anti-SLAPP motion to bring down a suit filed against John Travolta by the movie star's former pilot, the California Court of Appeal, Second District ruled. Gotterba v. Travolta, B247518.
Douglas Gotterba also claims he was Travolta's lover and, according to the court's ruling, planned to publish a tell-all book. Gotterba filed a declaratory judgment action after receiving threatening letters from Travolta's attorney, Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer Martin Singer of Lavely & Singer. The suit seeks a court order as to the validity of two conflicting termination agreements, one of which contained a confidentiality clause.
On behalf of a unanimous panel, Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert rejected Singer's claim that the suit against Travolta and his company, Alto Inc., should be dismissed because it seeks to stifle his protected speech. “Contrary to Alto's position and arguments, Gotterba's complaint is not based upon Alto's sabre-rattling demand letters,” Justice Gilbert wrote. “The complaint seeks declaratory relief regarding the validity of the asserted termination agreements and not the propriety of Alto's demand letters.” See a PDF of the ruling at http://bit.ly/1po731M.
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