Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge William J. Martínez
Civil Action No. 21-cv-3440-WJM-KLM
ERIC COOMER, Ph.D.,
Plaintiff,
v.
MAKE YOUR LIFE EPIC LLC, d/b/a THRIVETIME SHOW, and
CLAYTON THOMAS CLARK,
Defendants.
ORDER DENYING DEFENDANTS’ SPECIAL MOTION TO DISMISS
AND DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO STRIKE
Plaintiff Eric Coomer, Ph.D. (“Dr. Coomer”), sues Defendants Make Your Life
Epic, doing business as ThriveTime Show (“ThriveTime”), and Clayton Thomas Clark
(“Clark”) (together, “Defendants”) for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional
distress, and civil conspiracy, in connection with their statements about him following
the 2020 presidential election. (ECF No. 1). Now before the Court is Defendants’
Special Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-20-1101 (ECF
No. 24) (“Special Motion”) and Defendants’ Amended Objection to and Motion to Strike
Declarations of Eric Coomer, J. Alex Halderman, Mike Rothschild, Heidi Beedle, and
Doug Bania (ECF No. 36) (“Motion to Strike”).
For the reasons stated below, the Motion to Strike is granted in part and denied
in part, and the Special Motion is denied.
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I. BACKGROUND
A. Colorado’s Anti-SLAPP Statute
In 2019, C.R.S. § 13-20-1101 went into effect in Colorado. (ECF No. 24 at 7
n.26.) Section 13-20-1101 is what is referred to as an “anti-SLAPP” statute, intended to
discourage strategic lawsuits against public participation (“SLAPP”). Salazar v. Pub.
Trust Inst., 522 P.3d 342, 345, 345 n.1 (Colo. App. 2022). “The statute’s purpose is ‘to
encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely,
associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent
permitted by law and, at the same time, to protect the rights of persons to file
meritorious lawsuits for demonstrable injury.’” Id. at 246 (quoting C.R.S. § 13-20-
1101(1)(b)). To strike this balance, the statute provides a “special motion to dismiss” for
quickly screening out frivolous suits intended to chill speech about matters of public
concern. Id. at 246–47 (quoting C.R.S. § 13-20-1101(3)(a)).
Defendants contend their allegedly defamatory speech about Dr. Coomer falls
within the scope of Section 13-20-1101 and filed the Special Motion accordingly. (See
ECF No. 24.)
B. Material Facts
Dr. Coomer is the former Director of Product Strategy and Security at Dominion
Voting Systems, Inc. (“Dominion”), an electronic voting systems company. (ECF No.
30-1 ¶ 2.) Beginning in November 2020, non-party podcast host Joe Oltmann began
accusing Dr. Coomer of fraudulently rigging the election in favor of President Joe Biden
and against then-President Donald Trump. (ECF No. 24 at 4.) Oltmann alleged—
initially on his podcast and then in other forums—that he had infiltrated an “Antifa”
conference call in September 2020, during which a man identified as “Eric . . . the
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Dominion guy” proclaimed: “Don’t worry about the election, Trump is not gonna [sic]
win. I made f-ing sure of that. Hahahaha.” (Id.; ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 15–16.) Oltmann said
that, after this call, he identified Eric from Dominion as Dr. Coomer and described for his
listeners certain Facebook posts Dr. Coomer had made. (ECF No. 24 at 4.) Dr.
Coomer denies he interfered with or even had the power to interfere with the 2020
election and asserts Oltmann’s statements were fabricated to align with his
preconceived narrative that Trump was the legitimate winner of the election. (ECF No.
30-1 ¶¶ 17–18.)
Oltmann’s statements about Dr. Coomer were soon amplified by public figures
Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and others. (Id. ¶ 19; ECF No. 24 at 4.) As Dr. Coomer
grew in notoriety online, he and other Dominion employees began receiving death
threats, including via voicemails on his personal cell phone, e-mails, and anonymous
warnings that he was being watched. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶ 19–20.) Dr. Coomer stopped
going to work at Dominion’s Denver office and, fearing for his life, eventually went into
hiding, deleted his Facebook posts, and reduced contact with his family. (Id.) For
months, he moved frequently between the homes of friends and acquaintances,
returning to his own home only to occasionally check on his pets and belongings. (Id. ¶
20.) On one occasion, a stranger approached his home and shouted at him through his
window about election fraud. (Id.) Dr. Coomer warned the stranger that he was armed
with a shotgun and told the stranger to leave. (Id.) Shortly after, Oltmann referenced
the incident in a post on the social media platform Parler.1 (Id.)
1 Oltmann wrote: “Eric Coomer . . . want to chat with you but you are too scared. How
about you put that shotgun down and come out? Everyone is watching you Eric. . . everyone.”
(ECF No. 30-10.)
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Among those spreading Oltmann’s story about Dr. Coomer were Defendants.
(ECF No. 24 at 6.) Clark is the “well-known podcast host . . . [of] the Thrivetime Show
. . . , [which] is about business and politics.” (Id. at 1.) On December 22,2020, Clark
interviewed Oltmann on the ThriveTime Show, and Oltmann repeated his story about
Dr. Coomer. (Id. at 6.) Defendants titled the episode containing the interview,
“Exposing the Treasonous Eric Coomer[:] the ANTIFA Member and the Director of
Strategy and Security at DOMINION Voting Systems.” (ECF No. 30-13 at 2.) The
“show notes” of this episode include several numbered questions implying Dr. Coomer
is affiliated with Antifa, interfered with the voting systems in Georgia, committed treason,
and may or should go to jail. (Id. at 3–4.)
Clark continued to invite Oltmann as a guest on his show, and ThriveTime
published episodes in which Clark and Oltmann discussed Dr. Coomer on June 5, 2021,
and October 11, 2021. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 27–28.) During these episodes, Clark
referred to Oltmann as “the tip of the spear exposing election fraud,” and Oltmann
repeated his claims about Dr. Coomer’s participation in the conference call and efforts
to rig the election. (Id.) Oltmann reciprocated by inviting Clark on his podcast,
Conservative Daily, “on multiple occasions, including multiple appearances after being
served with this lawsuit, most recently on January 26, 2022[,] and on March 15, 2022.”
(Id. ¶ 28.)
The Reawaken America Tour (the “Tour”) is owned and managed by ThriveTime
and hosted by Clark. (Id. ¶ 29.) Starting in July 2021 and continuing at least until
January 2022, Defendants invited Oltmann to Tour events in California, Michigan,
Colorado, Texas, and Arizona, at which Oltmann repeated his assertions about Dr.
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Coomer. (Id. ¶¶ 29–33.) The Tour events in Colorado, Texas, and Arizona, post-dated
reporting on and public release of a Trump Campaign memorandum finding Dr. Coomer
had no connections to Antifa.2 (Id. ¶¶ 30–33.)
Since Oltmann first told the story of Dr. Coomer on the conference call, Dr.
Coomer has lost his job and effectively his career, received almost daily threats, been
clinically diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and suffered nationwide reputational
damage. (Id. ¶ 43.)
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Disposition of a special motion to dismiss under Section 13-20-1101 requires a
two-step analysis. Salazar, 522 P.3d at 248. The Court must “consider first whether
the motion and supporting affidavit establish a prima facie case that the plaintiff’s cause
of action falls within the anti-SLAPP statute—that is, whether the claim arises from an
act ‘in furtherance of the [defendant’s] right of petition or free speech . . . in connection
with a public issue.’” Id. (quoting C.R.S. § 13-20-1101(3)(a)). If the case falls within the
anti-SLAPP statute’s scope, then the Court must “consider the pleadings and the
supporting and opposing affidavits to determine whether the nonmoving party (the
plaintiff) has established a reasonable likelihood of success on his claim.” Id.
Being only a few years old, Colorado’s anti-SLAPP statute has not been
extensively litigated. L.S.S. v. S.A.P., — P.3d —, 2022 WL 11485481, at *4 (Colo. App.
October 22, 2022). Because Colorado’s statute “closely resembles California’s anti-
2 Alan Feuer, Trump Campaign Knew Lawyers’ Voting Machine Claims Were Baseless,
Memo Shows, N.Y. Times (Sept. 21, 2021),
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/us/politics/trump-dominion-voting.html; Read the Trump
Campaign’s Internal Memo, N.Y. Times (Sept. 21, 2021),
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/21/us/trump-campaign-memo.html.
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SLAPP statute,” Colorado courts look to the more developed body of California case
law for guidance. Id. Perhaps also due to the thin caselaw on the anti-SLAPP statute,
divisions of the Colorado Court of Appeals apparently disagree on how to treat Plaintiff’s
factual allegations for purposes of the Special Motion. One division held a court neither
accepts the allegations as true nor determines their truth. Salazar, 522 P.3d at 248.
Per that decision, courts must “assess whether the allegations and defenses are such
that it is reasonably likely that a jury would find for the plaintiff.” Id. Two other divisions,
looking to California case law, held courts should “‘not weigh evidence or resolve
conflicting evidence or resolve conflicting factual claims’ but simply ‘accept the plaintiff’s
evidence as true, and evaluate[] the defendant’s showing only to determine if it defeats
the plaintiff’s claim as a matter of law.’”3 L.S.S., 2022 WL 11485481, at *4 (quoting
Baral v. Schnitt, 376 P.3d 604, 608 (Cal. 2016)); accord Creekside Endodontics, LLC v.
Sullivan, — P.3d —, 2022 WL 17839873, at *5 (Colo. App. Dec. 22, 2022). The
Colorado Supreme Court has not yet resolved this split among divisions of the Colorado
Court of Appeals.
Judges in this federal district court have applied different standards in deciding
motions brought under Colorado’s anti-SLAPP statute. Senior U.S. District Judge
Robert E. Blackburn previously applied the standard adopted from California state
courts when considering a special motion under Colorado’s anti-SLAPP law. Stevens v.
3 Unlike panels of United States Courts of Appeals, divisions of the Colorado Court of
Appeals act independently based on their understanding of the law. Colo. Judicial Branch,
Protocols, https://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Court_Of_Appeals/Protocols.cfm (last visited
Mar. 3, 2023). While earlier-issued decisions by one panel of a United States Court of Appeals
is binding on other panels of that same court, divisions of the Colorado Court of Appeals are
free to decide an issue before them in a way that conflicts with an earlier decision by another
division on the same issue. United States v. White, 782 F.3d 1118, 1126–27 (10th Cir. 2015).
Therefore, even though Salazar was issued before L.S.S. and Creekside Endodontics, it does
not control here.
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Mulay, 2021 WL 1153059, at *3 (D. Colo. Mar. 26, 2021) (“This is a ‘summary
judgment-like’ standard, under which I must ‘accept[] as true the evidence favorable to
[Mr. Mulay] and evalut[e] [Ms. Stevens’s] evidence only to determine whether [she] has
defeated [Mr. Mulay’s] evidence as a matter of law.”) (quoting Lefebvre v. Lefebvre, 131
Cal. Rptr. 3d 171, 174 (Cal. Ct. App. 2011)) (alterations in original)).
U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney, relying on authority from the Ninth
Circuit, determined that the applicable standard depends on the nature of the challenge
brought in the Special Motion. Moreau v. United States Olympic & Paralympic Comm.,
— F. Supp.3d —, 2022 WL 17081329, at *7, 10–12 (“If the anti-SLAPP motion mounts a
legal challenge, courts assess the motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(6). If the anti-SLAPP motion mounts a factual challenge, courts assess the
motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56.”) (citation omitted).
“Reasonable likelihood,” though not defined in the statute, is a phrase that has
been used “interchangeably” by Colorado courts with the more familiar phrase
“reasonable probability.” Salazar, 522 P.3d at 249. Because Colorado Courts presume
the General Assembly was aware of this fact, “‘reasonable likelihood in the anti-SLAPP
statute is synonymous with “reasonable probability.’” Id.; accord L.S.S., 2022 WL
11485481, at *4 n.3.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Application of Section 13-20-1101 in Federal Court
The briefing on the Special Motion does not address whether the anti-SLAPP
statute applies in this Court. Rather the parties merely assume that it does, and they
further assume that the special-motion mechanism created by the state statute is
available in this Court in this action. (See generally ECF Nos. 24, 30, 37.)
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In Barnett v. Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C., the Tenth
Circuit noted that the “issue of whether to apply anti-SLAPP statutes . . . in federal court
is a challenging one and has divided the circuits.” 956 F.3d 1128, 1139 (2020). Barnett
did not require resolution of this question, and the panel explicitly left the question open.
Id. (“It makes sense to wait to decide the issue until we must do so, perhaps after
helpful development of both federal law and Oklahoma case law interpreting the
statute.”)
Judge Sweeney recently analyzed this question in depth in Moreau. 2022 WL
17081329, at *2–6. Following Ninth Circuit case law analyzing the application of
California’s anti-SLAPP law, Judge Sweeney determined Colorado’s anti-SLAPP statute
applies in federal court. Id. at *6. The Court has carefully considered Judge Sweeney’s
persuasive analysis and reasoning on this issue and has decided that it, too, will apply
Colorado’s anti-SLAPP statute in this action.
B. Anti-SLAPP Step One
The first step under the statute is to determine whether Defendants’ allegedly
defamatory statements were made “in connection with a public issue.” Id. at *7. There
are four categories of statements that fall under this definition under Colorado’s anti-
SLAPP statute. C.R.S. § 13-20-1101(2)(a). The statue provides:
(a) “Act in furtherance of a person’s right of petition or free
speech under the United States constitution or the state
constitution in connection with a public issue” includes:
(I) Any written or oral statement or writing made before a
legislative, executive, or judicial proceeding or any other
official proceeding authorized by law;
(II) Any written or oral statement or writing made in
connection with an issue under consideration or review by
a legislative, executive, or judicial body or any other
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official proceeding authorized by law;
(III) Any written or oral statement or writing made in a
place open to the public or a public forum in connection
with an issue of public interest; or
(IV) Any other conduct or communication in furtherance of
the exercise of the constitutional right of petition or the
constitutional right of free speech in connection with a
public issue or an issue of public interest.
C.R.S. § 13-20-1101(2)(a). Defendants argue their statements fall within categories II,
III, and IV. (ECF No. 24 at 8–9.)
Plaintiff emphasizes that Defendants bear the burden at step one of establishing
the statements are protected activity, and he argues the Special Motion’s mere
“[c]ollateral allusions to protected activity are insufficient” to carry this burden. (ECF No.
30 at 9.) He argues that the allegedly defamatory statements were not made in
connection with an existing matter of public concern, and therefore do not fall within
categories III or IV. (Id. at 10–12.) In Plaintiff’s view, prior to the conspiracy theory
hatched by Oltmann and amplified by Defendants and others, he was a private citizen,
despite his work at a company that provides electronic voting systems. (Id.) Plaintiff
argues the statements do not fall within category II because they were, at most,
tangentially related to issues under review in the various frivolous lawsuits filed in the
wake of the 2020 election. (Id. at 12–13.)
Defendants persuasively argue in reply that the allegedly defamatory statements
fall within Colorado’s anti-SLAPP provision. Under the California case law cited by both
parties, “[i]t is ‘the principal thrust or gravamen of the plaintiff’s cause of action that
determines whether the anti-SLAPP statute applies.’” Freeman v. Schack, 154 Cal.
App. 4th 719, 727 (Cal. App. 2007) (quoting Martinez v. Metabolife Int’l, Inc., Cal. App.
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4th 181, 188 (Cal. App. 2003)). Unlike in Freeman, where the gravamen of the claim
was a breach of fiduciary duty, which accrued prior to the filing of a public lawsuit, id. at
730–32, the gravamen of this action is the allegedly defamatory public statements
themselves. And while the Court agrees with Dr. Coomer that simply being employed
by Dominion did not make him a public figure, the Court agrees with Defendants that his
arguments focus too narrowly on himself and his status as a private citizen. (ECF No.
37 at 4–7.)
In the Court’s view, the appropriate aperture for considering the allegedly
defamatory statements is not specifically Dr. Coomer himself, but election security and
administration more generally. Viewed through this wider lens and in the context of (i)
an election conducted during a global pandemic and (ii) a 2016 election after which
election security was widely discussed, the Court concludes the gravamen of this case
falls within the scope of the anti-SLAPP statute. (See ECF No. 24 at 3.)
Therefore, the Court finds Defendants have met their burden at step one and
proceeds to step two.
C. Motion to Strike
At step two, Plaintiff must go beyond his pleadings and present evidence that
satisfies the Court that he is reasonably likely to prevail on the merits of his claims. See
L.S.S., 2022 WL 11485481, at *4.
Defendants argue in the Motion to Strike that substantial portions of the evidence
Plaintiff submits to meet his burden at step two cannot be properly considered by the
Court. (See ECF No. 36 at 2.) Therefore, before the Court can determine whether
Plaintiff has met his burden at step two, it must rule on the Motion to Strike.
Plaintiff submits, among other evidence, several declarations in opposition to the
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Special Motion. (See ECF No. 36 at 2.) Defendants argue substantial portions of Dr.
Coomer’s and the entirety of Dr. J. Alex Halderman’s, Mike Rothschild’s, Heidi Beedle’s,
and Doug Bania’s declarations should be stricken. (Id. at 6–7, 10, 12–13.) Relying on
California law, Defendants argue a Court may only consider declarations “if it is
reasonably possible the proffered evidence set out . . . will be admissible at trial.” (Id. at
2 (quoting Sweetwater Union High Sch. Dist. v. Gilbane Bldg. Co., 434 P.3d 1152, 1163
(Cal. 2019)).) “[I]f the evidence relied upon cannot be admitted at trial, because it is
categorically barred or undisputed factual circumstances show inadmissibility, the court
may not consider it in the face of an objection.” (Id. (quoting Sweetwater Union, 434
P.3d at 1163).) Plaintiff agrees the Court should apply California law as articulated in
Sweetwater Union. (See ECF No. 38 at 4.)
The Court notes below that when ruling on a special motion predicated on a
factual challenge, federal courts apply the standards set forth in Rule 56. See infra
Section III.A. Rule 56(c)(2) provides that a “party may object that the material cited to
support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in
evidence.” Under this standard, plaintiffs “need not produce evidence ‘in a form that
would be admissible at trial,’ but the content or substance of the evidence must be
admissible.” Thomas v. Int’l Bus. Machs., 48 F.3 478, 485 (10th Cir. 1995) (quoting
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986)). In the Court’s view, the rule
articulated in Sweetwater Union is substantively identical to the standard under Rule
56(c)(2). See Sweetwater Union, 434 P.3d at 1163 (“To strike a complaint for failure to
meet evidentiary obstacles that may be overcome at trial would not serve the SLAPP
Act’s protective purposes.”)
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The Court next addresses Defendants’ objections to each of the declarations.
Defendants helpfully describe each objection individually and identify the objected-to
language by paragraph numbers; however, for the sake of brevity, the Court
summarizes these objections based on their content.
1. Dr. Coomer’s Declaration
Defendants argue that portions of Dr. Coomer’s declaration contain evidence that
cannot be admitted for the following reasons: (1) lack of personal knowledge; (2)
impermissible legal conclusions; and (3) improper personal opinions.
After reviewing the parties’ arguments and Dr. Coomer’s declaration, the Court
finds the objected-to statements can be admitted at trial. For example, Defendants
argue Dr. Coomer has insufficient personal knowledge to describe statements by
Oltmann on Defendants’ podcast and at Defendants’ Tour events because he was not
personally present when the statements were made. (ECF No. 36 at 6.) But this
ignores the fact that these statements were often videotaped for later viewing by a wider
audience. As another example, Defendants argue Dr. Coomer’s description of certain
statements as “defamatory” is an impermissible legal conclusion. (Id. at 7.) But Dr.
Coomer’s declaration does not attempt to tell the Court how to apply certain facts to the
law—it simply uses the adjective “defamatory” to identify the statements that are the
subject of this defamation action. See United States v. Schneider, 704 F.3d 1287, 1294
(10th Cir. 2013). As a final example, there is nothing inherently impermissible about a
lay witness giving opinion testimony. Fed. R. Evid. 701. Such testimony need only be
rationally based on the witness’s perception, helpful to the finder of fact, and not
scientific or technical in nature. Id. As far as Dr. Coomer’s opinions about his own
mental state, the Court finds they could be helpful to the finder of fact, depending on the
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other evidence offered at trial.
Accordingly, with respect the Declaration of Dr. Coomer, the Motion to Strike is
denied.
2. Dr. Halderman’s Declaration
Defendants argue the declaration of J. Alex Halderman, Ph.D., should be
stricken in its entirety because it is “substantially comprised” of: (1) statements made
without personal knowledge; (2) legal conclusions; and (3) argument and opinions.
(ECF No. 36 at 7.)
After reviewing the parties’ arguments and Dr. Halderman’s declaration, the
Court finds all but one of the objected-to statements can be admitted at trial.
Defendants’ objections based on personal knowledge and opinions fundamentally
misapprehend either (i) that Dr. Halderman would be offered at trial as an expert
witness or (ii) the nature of expert testimony itself. Experts may rely on information
outside their own personal knowledge in formulating their opinions, and they may in fact
offer opinion testimony within their area of expertise. Fed. R. Evid. 703. Further, the
Court disagrees with Defendants’ contention that Dr. Halderman’s opinions are “de facto
legal conclusions.” (ECF No. 36 at 8 (emphasis in original).)
For example, Dr. Halderman’s opinion that Oltmann’s claims about Dr. Coomer
should have been incredible “to any responsible” party does not tell the finder of fact
how to apply the law to the facts. See Schneider, 704 F.3d at 1294 It is simply an
opinion on a fact relevant to the “actual malice” element of a defamation claim involving
a matter of public concern.
The Court, however, strikes and does not consider the following statement by Dr.
Halderman: “It would have been the height of cartoonish buffoonery to claim to a large
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group that such a scheme [to rig the election] was in the works, much less that it was
guaranteed to prevail.” (ECF No. 30-37 at 11.) The Court finds that this statement
would not assist the finder of fact, and therefore cannot be admitted at trial. Specht v.
Jensen, 853 F.2d 805, 813 (10th Cir. 1988).
Accordingly, with respect the Declaration of Dr. Halderman, the Motion to Strike
is granted in part and denied in part.
3. Rothschild’s Declaration
Defendants argue the declaration of Mike Rothschild should be stricken in its
entirety because it consists of: (1) statements made without personal knowledge; and
(2) argument and opinions. (ECF No. 36 at 10.)
After reviewing the parties’ arguments and Rothschild’s declaration, the Court
finds the objected-to statements can be admitted at trial. Again, Defendants’ objections
strongly suggest they misapprehend the nature of the testimony Rothschild would offer
at trial. Expert testimony is often based on information outside the expert’s personal
knowledge, and the very purpose of expert testimony is assisting the finder of fact with
expert opinions. See Fed. R. Evid. 702, 703.
Accordingly, with respect the Declaration of Mike Rothschild, the Motion to Strike
is denied.
4. Beedle’s Declaration
Defendants argue the declaration of Heidi Beedle should be stricken in its
entirety because it is “substantially comprised” of: (1) statements made without personal
knowledge; (2) hearsay; and (3) argument and opinions. (ECF No. 36 at 12.)
After reviewing the parties’ arguments and Beedle’s declaration, the Court finds
the objected-to statements can be admitted at trial. None of the statements in Beedle’s
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declaration are made without personal knowledge nor are they hearsay. For example,
Defendants argue Beedle’s statements that she is not affiliated with the organization
“Our Revolution” and why she believes Oltmann misidentified her as a member of that
organization are made without personal knowledge. (ECF No. 36 at 12.) But surely
Beedle knows personally with which groups she is and is not affiliated. At trial, it may
be necessary for Beedle to offer more foundation for why she thinks the February 16,
2020, Our Revolution event specifically is the reason Oltmann came to misidentify her
as affiliated with Our Revolution. (See ECF No. 30-40 ¶ 9.) But at this time, the Court
finds this testimony can be admissible at trial. As another example, Defendants argue
Beedle offers improper opinion testimony but, again, lay opinion testimony is
permissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 701, and Defendants offer no argument as
to why Beedle’s statements are impermissible under that rule. (See ECF No. 36 at 13.)
Accordingly, with respect the Declaration of Heidi Beedle, the Motion to Strike is
denied.
5. Bania’s Declaration
Defendants argue the declaration of Doug Bania should be stricken in its
entirety because it is “substantially comprised” of statements made without personal
knowledge. (ECF No. 36 at 13.)
After reviewing the parties’ arguments and Bania’s declaration, the Court finds
the objected-to statements can be admitted at trial. It is clear from his declaration that
Bania would testify as an expert at trial—something he has done in more than 75
different cases in state and federal courts. (ECF No. 30-45 ¶ 5.) Though Defendants
object that Bania was not personally involved in sending or receiving the tweets he
analyzes in his declaration, as the Court has already explained, this is not necessary for
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an expert like Bania to consider and opine on the threatening tweets about Dr. Coomer.
Fed. R. Evid. 703.
Accordingly, with respect the Declaration of Doug Bania, the Motion to Strike is
denied.
D. Anti-SLAPP Step Two
At step two, the Court must consider the evidence provided by Plaintiff and
determine whether it establishes a likelihood to prevail on the merits. See L.S.S., 2022
WL 11485481, at *4.
As Judge Sweeney explained in Moreau, the special-motion procedure does not
fit neatly into either Rule 12 or Rule 56. Moreau, 2022 WL 17081329, at *7. For this
reason, “courts must determine whether the basis of an anti-SLAPP motion is legal or
factual.” Id. If the motion amounts to a legal challenge, the court analyzes it under the
Rule 12 standard; if it amounts to a factual challenge, the court analyzes it under the
Rule 56 standard. Id. Because this Court finds Defendants’ challenge is factual in
nature, it holds that the Rule 56 standard and approach applies. Id.
In Moreau the party invoking the anti-SLAPP statute levied both legal and factual
challenges. Id. at *7–12. Again following guidance from the Ninth Circuit, Judge
Sweeney ruled on the legal challenge but not on the factual challenge. Id. at *11–12.
Under Ninth Circuit law, in a case where the special motion is predicated on a factual
challenge, “discovery must be allowed, with opportunities to supplement evidence
based on the factual challenges, before any decision is made by the court.” Planned
Parenthood Fed’n Am., Inc. v. Ctr. Med. Progress, 890 F.3d 828, 834 (9th Cir. 2018).
The reason for this rule, however, is to prevent the application of a state procedural rule
limiting discovery by the party resisting dismissal in “direct colli[sion]” with Rule 56.
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Metabolife Int’l, Inc. v. Wornick, 264 F.3d 832, 846 (9th Cir. 2001) (“Although Rule 56(f)
facially gives judges the discretion to disallow discovery when the non-moving party
cannot yet submit evidence supporting its opposition, the Supreme Court has restated
the rule as requiring, rather than merely permitting, discovery ‘where the nonmoving
party has not had the opportunity to discover information that is essential to its
opposition.’”)
Here, because Plaintiff has already had the benefit of the discovery conducted in
other proceedings against Oltmann and other defendants (see ECF No. 38 at 4–5), he
has presented extensive evidence already in his custody and control in opposition to the
Special Motion, and therefore in the circumstances of this case is not disadvantaged by
early consideration of that Motion. Therefore, the Court will proceed to consider
Plaintiff’s claims individually in turn.
1. Defamation
Under the First Amendment and Colorado law, in a defamation case involving a
matter of public concern, there are six elements a plaintiff must show: (1) a defamatory
statement; (2) that was materially false; (3) concerning Plaintiff; (4) published to a third
party; (5) with actual malice; and (6) that caused actual or special damages. Brokers’
Choice Am., Inc. v. NBC Universal, Inc., 861 F.3d 1081, 1109 (10th Cir. 2017) (citing
Williams v. Dist. Ct., 866 P.2d 908, 911 n.4 (Colo. 1993); Fry v. Lee, 408 P.3d 843, 848
(Colo. App. 2013)).
Defamatory Statement. There can be no real dispute that at least some of the
statements attributed to Defendants are defamatory. Under Colorado law, a statement
is defamatory per se if it imputes a criminal offense. Gordon v. Boyles, 99 P.3d 75, 79
(Colo. App. 2004). Plaintiff has submitted evidence tending to show Defendants
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repeatedly endorsed Oltmann’s accusation that Dr. Coomer committed fraud and
treason by inviting him on the TriveTime Show and the Tour. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 23–33.)
Treason is a crime so infamous it is specifically mentioned in the federal Constitution.
U.S. Const. art. III, § 3. The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with
respect to the first element.
Materially False. In a case such as this, where the allegedly defamatory
statements relate to a matter of public concern, the plaintiff must show falsity by clear
and convincing evidence. Fry, 408 P.3d at 848. Here, the declarations Plaintiff submits
contain substantial evidence tending to show the falsity of the various statements
Defendants made about him. This includes evidence tending to show not only that the
election fraud as alleged by Oltmann was technically impossible, but also that the claim
of Dr. Coomer’s involvement in the September conference call was supported by
fabricated evidence. (ECF No. 30-37 ¶¶ 25–26, 44–45.) Given this compelling
evidence, the Court finds Plaintiff could show material falsity by clear and convincing
evidence, and it further finds that he has carried his burden at step two with respect to
the second element.
Concerning Plaintiff. Many, if not all, of the allegedly defamatory statements
“concern” Plaintiff. As has already been noted, many of the statements—including
those made by Defendants rather than Oltmann—mention Dr. Coomer by name. (See
e.g., ECF No. 24-10 at 3.) The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with
respect to the third element.
Published to a Third Party. Defendants repeatedly seek to shift the Court’s
focus to Oltmann. (ECF No. 24 at 1, 10–11, 13–14.) And while it is true that Oltmann
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originated the claims that Dr. Coomer committed election fraud and treason, Defendants
did more than merely deliver or transmit these statements. As alleged, Defendants
repeatedly invited Oltmann onto the ThriveTime Show podcast and to Tour events, and
Defendants themselves knowingly published statements suggesting Dr. Coomer
committed the crimes of election fraud and treason. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 23–33.)
Moreover, Defendants’ argument that the following statement, which they freely
admit was made by them, is merely an unverifiable opinion (and not an assertion of fact)
and therefore unactionable severely strains credulity: “And you have these people like
Eric Coomer that are attempting to overthrow what appears to be the will of the people.”
(ECF No. 24-10 at 3.) The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with
respect to the fourth element.
Actual Malice. Plaintiff must show with clear and convincing evidence that
Defendants’ defamatory statements about him were published “with actual malice, that
is, with actual knowledge that they were false or in reckless disregard of the truth.” Fry,
408 P.3d at 848. “Actual malice can be shown if the author entertained serious doubts
as to the truth of the statement or acted with a high degree of awareness of its probable
falsity.” Id. There is substantial circumstantial evidence in the declarations that
Defendants acted with reckless disregard of the truth. Take again the example of
Defendants’ statement regarding Dr. Coomer “attempting to overthrow what appears to
be the will of the people.” Defendants made this statement based on uncorroborated
assertions by Oltmann about a conference call that allegedly occurred months earlier
and was not recorded. (ECF No. 30 at 17.)
Despite Oltmann’s obvious, self-serving motivations to make these accusations,
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Defendants did not even attempt to reach out to Dr. Coomer or Heidi Beedle prior to
making this statement about Dr. Coomer. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶ 26; ECF No. 30-40 ¶ 20;
see Burns v. McGraw, 659 P.2d 1351, 1361–62 (Colo. 1983).) “[F]ailure to pursue the
most obvious available sources of possible corroboration or refutation may clearly and
convincingly evidence a reckless disregard for the truth.” Kuhn v. Tribune-Republican
Publ’g Co., 637 P.2d 315, 319 (Colo. 1981). The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden
at step two with respect to the fifth element.
Damages. No reasonable person, or trier of fact, can credibly dispute that
Plaintiff has been damaged. Dr. Coomer has lost his job (and potentially his career), he
been harassed and stalked, he has been threatened with physical harm, he has been
diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and his reputation has allegedly been
destroyed. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 20, 43.) The Court finds Plaintiff has more than met his
burden at step two with respect to the sixth element.
Having satisfied his burden with respect to each element, the Court finds Plaintiff
has shown he is likely to prevail on the merits of his defamation claim. Therefore, with
respect to Plaintiff’s defamation claim, the Special Motion is denied.
2. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
“A claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress requires proof that (1) the
defendant(s) engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct, (2) recklessly or with the
intent of causing the plaintiff severe emotional distress, and (3) causing the plaintiff
severe emotional distress.” Mackall v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 356 P.3d 946, 955
(Colo. App. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Outrageous Conduct. “‘Outrageous conduct’ is defined as conduct that is ‘so
outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds
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of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized
community.’” Culpepper v. Pearl St. Bldg., Inc., 877 P.2d 877, 882 (Colo. 1994).
Plaintiff has presented evidence that Defendants, for a period of at least a year,
repeatedly accused Dr. Coomer (or amplified others’ accusations) of the crimes of
election fraud and treason, that they did so in reckless disregard of the truth, and that
they persisted in these accusations even after a point in time when they reasonably
should have known of the death threats Plaintiff had received. (ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 23–
33.)
On one occasion, for example, a man harassed Dr. Coomer at his house, only
leaving when Dr. Coomer threatened him with a shotgun. (Id. ¶ 20.) Afterward,
Oltmann mocked Dr. Coomer in a social media post in which he acknowledged that
people were harassing Dr. Coomer based on the accusations of election fraud and
treason. (Id.) This occurred before Oltmann’s first appearance on Defendants’ podcast,
and yet Defendants still repeatedly invited Oltmann on the podcast and to live Tour
events to repeat and spread the allegedly defamatory statements against Dr. Coomer.
(Id. ¶¶ 20, 23–25, 28–34.) As a result, the Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at
step two with respect to the first element.
Recklessly or with Intent. Plaintiff does not indicate in his brief argument
relating to this claim whether he plans to show Defendants acted recklessly or with
intent. (See ECF No. 30 at 19.) For the purposes of this analysis, however, the Court
will use the lower standard of recklessness. “A person acts recklessly in causing severe
emotional distress in another if, at the time of the conduct, he knew or reasonably
should have known that there was a substantial probability that his conduct would cause
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severe emotional distress to the other person.” Culpepper, 877 P.2d at 882–83.
Plaintiff has presented a bevy of relevant evidence in the declarations, but in the Court’s
view, a single piece of evidence already discussed could support a finding of
recklessness. The incident at Dr. Coomer’s house involving the stranger and the
shotgun alone should have made clear that these accusations had the effect of causing
him severe emotional distress. Yet, despite this event being acknowledged by Oltmann,
Defendants still brought him on the podcast and to Tour events, endorsed Oltmann’s
accusations, and repeated them to Defendants’ audiences.4 The Court finds Plaintiff
has met his burden at step two with respect to the second element.
Causing Severe Emotional Distress. Emotional distress is “severe” when “no
reasonable man could be expected to endure it.” Restatement (Second) Torts § 46,
cmt. j; see Culpepper, 877 P.2d at 882–83 (citing Restatement (Second) Torts). Plaintiff
has submitted evidence to show that he has endured credible fear for his own life and
the lives of his family, in addition to suffering significant anxiety and depression. (ECF
No. 30-1 ¶¶ 19, 43.) The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with
respect to the third element.
Having satisfied his burden with respect to each element, the Court finds Plaintiff
has shown he is likely to prevail on the merits of his intentional infliction of emotional
distress claim. Therefore, with respect to Plaintiff’s intentional infliction of emotional
distress claim, the Special Motion is also denied.
4 It is not clear whether Defendants were actually aware of this post at the time they first
invited Oltmann onto the ThriveTime Show podcast. Regardless, the standard is “knew or
should have known,” and the Court finds a jury could reasonably find Defendants should have
investigated how Oltmann came to know about Dr. Coomer and become aware of Oltmann’s
chilling Parler post prior some or all of their allegedly defamatory statements.
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3. Civil Conspiracy
The elements of civil conspiracy under Colorado law are: “(1) two or more
persons, and for this purpose a corporation is a person; (2) an object to be
accomplished; (3) a meeting of the minds on the object or course of action; (4) one or
more unlawful overt acts; and (5) damages as the proximate result thereof.” Jet Courier
Serv., Inc. v. Mulei, 771 P.2d 486, 502 (Colo. 1989).
Two or More Persons. Defendants Clark and ThriveTime are two “persons” for
purposes of this analysis. The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with
respect to the first element.
Object to be Accomplished. Plaintiff’s evidence tends to show that the object
of Defendants’ conspiracy was to defame him for financial gain. (See ECF No. 30-39 ¶
39 (“[G]iven the price of tickets and the amount of merchandise sold, it’s not
unreasonable to think that each tour stop brings in at least a million dollars.”).) The
Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with respect to the second element.
Meeting of the Minds. Plaintiff’s declarations also support the conclusion that
there was a meeting of the minds between Defendants. Starting with inviting Oltmann
onto the ThriveTime Show in December 2020 and continuing throughout the many Tour
events that featured Oltmann, Clark and ThriveTime appear to have acted in concert to
publish and promote the allegedly defamatory statements. (See ECF No. 30-1 ¶¶ 23–
33.) The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with respect to the third
element.
Overt Acts. There can be no real dispute that overt acts were taken to advance
the alleged conspiracy, based on the evidence Plaintiff submits. (See id.) Indeed,
Defendants do not even contest that they made many of the alleged statements—they
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merely argue the statements are not actionable for various reasons. (ECF No. 24 at
12–14.) The Court finds Plaintiff has met his burden at step two with respect to the
fourth element.
Damages. As discussed above in Sections III.E.1 and III.E.2, Plaintiff has
presented evidence of the serious economic and psychological damages he has
endured as a result of Defendants’ conduct. The Court finds Plaintiff has met his
burden at step two with respect to the fifth element.
Having satisfied his burden with respect to each element, the Court finds Plaintiff
has shown he is likely to prevail on the merits of his civil conspiracy claim. Therefore,
with respect to Plaintiff’s civil conspiracy claim, the Special Motion is denied.
IV. CONCLUSION
Accordingly, for the reasons stated, the Court ORDERS as follows:
1. Defendants’ Special Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes §
13-20-1101 (ECF No. 24) is DENIED;
2. Defendants’ Amended Objection to and Motion to Strike Declarations of Eric
Coomer, J. Alex Halderman, Mike Rothschild, Heidi Beedle, and Doug Bania
(ECF No. 36) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART as set out above;
3. Plaintiff’s Unopposed Motion to Set Hearing on Defendants’ Special Motion to
Dismiss Pursuant to C.R.S. § 13-20-1101 (ECF No. 43) is DENIED AS MOOT;
4. The Stay of this action (ECF No. 34) is hereby LIFTED; and
5. Counsel for the parties is DIRECTED to jointly contact the Chambers of U.S.
Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix no later than March 9, 2023 to set a status
conference, or such other proceeding as Judge Mix deems appropriate to
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promptly advance this litigation.
Dated this 7th day of March, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
______________________
William J. Martinez
Senior United States District Judge
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