{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca1-25-1149-2025-10-31","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca1-25-1149-2025-10-31)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-10-14","fingerprint":"ewai:us:88b5b2","proof":"sha256:8ee152123a78623daa9e75902d131ca60bebb2f9dbadcd06c52b568e6757baf6","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:ca1-25-1149-2025-10-31","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"For the First Circuit","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"No. 25-1149","paragraphs":["para_4","para_5","para_6","para_7","para_8"]},{"title":"APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS","paragraphs":["para_11"]},{"title":"Before","paragraphs":["para_13","para_14"]},{"title":"Michael G. McDonough, with whom Edward J. McDonough Jr., Paul","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"M. Bromwich, and Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C., were on brief, for","paragraphs":["para_17"]},{"title":"Shaun M. Khan, with whom Keith L. Sachs and DDSK Law LLC were","paragraphs":["para_19"]},{"title":"October 31, 2025","paragraphs":["para_21"]},{"title":"RIKELMAN, Circuit Judge. This case presents difficult","paragraphs":["para_23","para_24","para_25","para_26","para_27","para_28","para_29","para_30"]},{"title":"The Marcuses moved to dismiss Rebecca's case under the","paragraphs":["para_32"]},{"title":"This statute allows defendants to obtain early dismissal of a","paragraphs":["para_34","para_35","para_36","para_37","para_38","para_39","para_40","para_41","para_42","para_43"]},{"title":"1 SLAPP stands for \"strategic lawsuit against public","paragraphs":["para_45","para_46","para_47","para_48"]},{"title":"I. BACKGROUND","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"A. Relevant Facts","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Rebecca Blakesley married Andrew Blakesley in 2019.2 She","paragraphs":["para_52","para_53","para_54","para_55"]},{"title":"Rebecca, Andrew then pulled her out of her chair by her hair, threw","paragraphs":["para_57"]},{"title":"The next day, Andrew offered to help Rebecca with data entry for","paragraphs":["para_59","para_60"]},{"title":"At the time, Rebecca was working under contract as a nurse","paragraphs":["para_62","para_63","para_64"]},{"title":"Rebecca gave Andrew access to these online databases from April to","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"December 2020 so that he could input patient information on her","paragraphs":["para_67"]},{"title":"2 We refer to Rebecca, Andrew, Colleen, and Jennifer by their","paragraphs":["para_69","para_70"]},{"title":"In the second half of 2020, as the COVID pandemic","paragraphs":["para_72"]},{"title":"December, Rebecca sought police assistance when Andrew became","paragraphs":["para_74","para_75"]},{"title":"Less than a week later, on December 11, Rebecca received a text","paragraphs":["para_77","para_78","para_79","para_80","para_81","para_82"]},{"title":"Just days after a state court granted Rebecca a","paragraphs":["para_84","para_85","para_86"]},{"title":"They claimed that Rebecca had shared confidential patient","paragraphs":["para_88"]},{"title":"Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), § 101(a), 29 U.S.C. § 1181 et","paragraphs":["para_90","para_91","para_92"]},{"title":"3 Colleen is \"not Andrew's biological mother but she raised","paragraphs":["para_94","para_95","para_96"]},{"title":"Office of Civil Rights (OCR), on January 15, 2021, and with the","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"State of Connecticut Department of Public Health several days","paragraphs":["para_99"]},{"title":"Rebecca's private healthcare employers via phone and email to","paragraphs":["para_101","para_102","para_103","para_104"]},{"title":"In her complaint, Colleen explicitly referenced Jennifer's reports","paragraphs":["para_106"]},{"title":"After receiving Colleen's complaint, BORN launched an","paragraphs":["para_108","para_109"]},{"title":"Rebecca's employment, and the Commonwealth halted its review of","paragraphs":["para_111","para_112"]},{"title":"B. Procedural History","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"On January 24, 2024, Rebecca filed this lawsuit against","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Colleen and Jennifer in federal court, relying on diversity","paragraphs":["para_116","para_117","para_118","para_119","para_120"]},{"title":"II alleged intentional interference with business relations for","paragraphs":["para_122","para_123"]},{"title":"In response, the Marcuses brought a special motion to","paragraphs":["para_125","para_126","para_127","para_128","para_129","para_130"]},{"title":"The district court denied the Marcuses' anti-SLAPP","paragraphs":["para_132","para_133","para_134","para_135","para_136"]},{"title":"(discussing Duracraft Corp. v. Holmes Prods. Corp., 691 N.E.2d 935","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(Mass. 1998)). Citing Bristol and other authority, the district","paragraphs":["para_139"]},{"title":"Rebecca's claims of defamation and tortious interference were","paragraphs":["para_141","para_142","para_143","para_144"]},{"title":"Rebecca's case against them concerned \"mixed claims,\" and thus the","paragraphs":["para_146","para_147"]},{"title":"II. STANDARD OF REVIEW","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"We consider both (1) whether we have interlocutory","paragraphs":["para_150","para_151","para_152"]},{"title":"Puerto Ven Quarry Corp., 513 F.3d 20, 25-26 (1st Cir. 2008) (citing","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Will v. Hallock, 546 U.S. 345, 347 (2006)). Thus, we review the","paragraphs":["para_155","para_156","para_157"]},{"title":"As a federal court sitting in diversity jurisdiction, we","paragraphs":["para_159","para_160","para_161","para_162"]},{"title":"So \"we endeavor to predict how the Commonwealth's highest court","paragraphs":["para_164","para_165","para_166","para_167"]},{"title":"III. DISCUSSION","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"As we explain, we bypass the complicated questions about","paragraphs":["para_170","para_171","para_172"]},{"title":"A. Jurisdiction","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"The Marcuses contend we have jurisdiction under the","paragraphs":["para_175","para_176","para_177"]},{"title":"Cir. 2023). The collateral order doctrine allows review of a","paragraphs":["para_179","para_180","para_181"]},{"title":"Direct Inc., 511 U.S. 863, 867 (1994) (citation omitted) (quoting","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Cobbledick v. United States, 309 U.S. 323, 326 (1940)); see also","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Lee-Barnes, 513 F.3d at 25. To qualify for review under the","paragraphs":["para_185"]},{"title":"(1) a conclusive decision, (2) distinct from the merits of the","paragraphs":["para_187","para_188"]},{"title":"84 (citing Awuah v. Coverall N. Am. Inc., 585 F.3d 479, 480 (1st","paragraphs":["para_190","para_191"]},{"title":"The parties' jurisdictional dispute centers on the","paragraphs":["para_193","para_194","para_195","para_196","para_197","para_198"]},{"title":"The SJC recently clarified the correct legal analysis","paragraphs":["para_200","para_201","para_202","para_203","para_204","para_205","para_206"]},{"title":"Under stage one of the Bristol framework, it was the","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Marcuses' burden (as the proponents of the special motion to","paragraphs":["para_209","para_210","para_211","para_212","para_213","para_214"]},{"title":"Bristol. See id. If they succeeded, then the burden would have","paragraphs":["para_216","para_217","para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221"]},{"title":"Here, the district court's analysis of the anti-SLAPP","paragraphs":["para_223"]},{"title":"The court decided that, \"even assuming the [Marcuses'] decision to","paragraphs":["para_225","para_226","para_227","para_228","para_229","para_230"]},{"title":"Massachusetts law and thus denied the motion. The court closed","paragraphs":["para_232","para_233","para_234"]},{"title":"With the district court's stage one analysis in mind, we","paragraphs":["para_236","para_237","para_238","para_239","para_240","para_241"]},{"title":"A number of federal courts of appeals have declined to","paragraphs":["para_243","para_244"]},{"title":"24-2626, 2025 WL 2858761 (9th Cir. Oct. 9, 2025) (en banc)","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(overruling Batzel v. Smith, 333 F.3d 1018 (9th Cir. 2003)); Coomer","paragraphs":["para_247","para_248","para_249","para_250","para_251","para_252","para_253","para_254"]},{"title":"4 See Coomer, 98 F.4th at 1327 (rejecting interlocutory","paragraphs":["para_256","para_257","para_258","para_259","para_260"]},{"title":"Ernst, 814 F.3d at 119-20 (holding that the denial of relief under","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Vermont's anti-SLAPP statute was not appealable because step two","paragraphs":["para_263","para_264"]},{"title":"5 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concluded","paragraphs":["para_266"]},{"title":"Louisiana statute did satisfy the second prong of the collateral","paragraphs":["para_268","para_269"]},{"title":"L.L.C., 566 F.3d 164, 175-177 (5th Cir. 2009) (holding that a","paragraphs":["para_271","para_272","para_273","para_274"]},{"title":"We do not wade into this debate today. As our precedent","paragraphs":["para_276","para_277","para_278","para_279","para_280"]},{"title":"469 F.3d 143, 151 (1st Cir. 2006) (assuming statutory jurisdiction","paragraphs":["para_282","para_283"]},{"title":"B. Merits","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"To recap, the district court held that the Marcuses could","paragraphs":["para_286","para_287"]},{"title":"Rebecca alleged \"mixed claims\" that were not based solely on their","paragraphs":["para_289","para_290","para_291","para_292","para_293","para_294"]},{"title":"The Massachusetts anti-SLAPP statute provides, \"[i]n any","paragraphs":["para_296","para_297","para_298","para_299","para_300","para_301","para_302"]},{"title":"Laws ch. 231, § 59H. The anti-SLAPP statute defines a party's","paragraphs":["para_304","para_305","para_306","para_307","para_308","para_309","para_310","para_311","para_312","para_313","para_314","para_315","para_316","para_317","para_318","para_319"]},{"title":"Under the statute, a court \"shall grant\" a special motion","paragraphs":["para_321","para_322","para_323","para_324","para_325","para_326","para_327","para_328","para_329","para_330"]},{"title":"Recently, in Bristol, the SJC emphasized the \"need to","paragraphs":["para_332","para_333","para_334","para_335","para_336","para_337","para_338","para_339","para_340","para_341","para_342","para_343","para_344"]},{"title":"1036. This caution was necessary, the court explained, because","paragraphs":["para_346","para_347","para_348","para_349","para_350","para_351","para_352","para_353"]},{"title":"Under that approach, the SJC took a strict view \"of § 59H's","paragraphs":["para_355","para_356","para_357","para_358","para_359"]},{"title":"Duracraft, 691 N.E.2d at 943). As the SJC explained, this focus","paragraphs":["para_361","para_362","para_363","para_364"]},{"title":"Under the streamlined Bristol framework, the district","paragraphs":["para_366","para_367","para_368","para_369","para_370","para_371"]},{"title":"The Marcuses argue that all their alleged conduct","paragraphs":["para_373","para_374","para_375","para_376","para_377"]},{"title":"According to the Marcuses, their complaints to Rebecca's","paragraphs":["para_379","para_380","para_381","para_382"]},{"title":"In particular, they claim the employers were potential \"witnesses\"","paragraphs":["para_384","para_385","para_386","para_387","para_388"]},{"title":"We thus turn to the \"in connection\" requirement. The","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"SJC has stated that for statements to qualify as being \"in","paragraphs":["para_391","para_392","para_393"]},{"title":"Inc., 75 N.E.3d 21, 30 (Mass. 2017), overruled on other grounds","paragraphs":["para_395","para_396","para_397","para_398","para_399","para_400","para_401"]},{"title":"6 The SJC clarified in Bristol that the precedent \"prior to","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Blanchard[] concerning mixed claims remains sound\" and that the","paragraphs":["para_404","para_405","para_406","para_407","para_408"]},{"title":"The Marcuses claim that their statements to Rebecca's","paragraphs":["para_410","para_411","para_412","para_413","para_414","para_415","para_416","para_417","para_418"]},{"title":"The difficulty for the Marcuses, however, is that none","paragraphs":["para_420","para_421","para_422","para_423","para_424","para_425","para_426","para_427","para_428","para_429","para_430","para_431","para_432","para_433"]},{"title":"Creigle (the defendant) made the statements to the newspaper in","paragraphs":["para_435","para_436","para_437","para_438"]},{"title":"Creigle's statements as \"mere repetition[s]\" of those she had","paragraphs":["para_440","para_441","para_442","para_443","para_444","para_445","para_446","para_447"]},{"title":"824 N.E.2d at 463, 467-69. As it explained, statements designed","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"7 To be clear, Massachusetts courts have ruled that statements","paragraphs":["para_450","para_451","para_452","para_453","para_454","para_455","para_456","para_457","para_458","para_459","para_460","para_461","para_462"]},{"title":"We see no basis under Massachusetts law for extending","paragraphs":["para_464","para_465","para_466","para_467","para_468","para_469"]},{"title":"See United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 16-17 (1st Cir. 1990);","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Sparkle Hill, Inc. v. Interstate Mat Corp., 788 F.3d 25, 29 (1st","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Cir. 2015) (\"Our precedent is clear: we do not consider arguments","paragraphs":["para_473","para_474"]},{"title":"As a federal court sitting in diversity, we \"must","paragraphs":["para_476","para_477"]},{"title":"186, 192 (1st Cir. 1996). And because it is \"quintessentially the","paragraphs":["para_479"]},{"title":"74 F.3d 1347, 1356 (1st Cir. 1996), we decline to do so here by","paragraphs":["para_481","para_482","para_483","para_484","para_485","para_486"]},{"title":"Massachusetts law and, as a result, the Marcuses failed to meet","paragraphs":["para_488","para_489","para_490"]},{"title":"Finally, the Marcuses point out that Colleen did not","paragraphs":["para_492","para_493","para_494","para_495","para_496","para_497"]},{"title":"But the pleadings and affidavits support the district court's","paragraphs":["para_499","para_500","para_501","para_502","para_503","para_504","para_505","para_506","para_507","para_508","para_509","para_510","para_511"]},{"title":"Our holding aligns with the SJC's instruction to take a","paragraphs":["para_513","para_514","para_515","para_516","para_517","para_518","para_519","para_520","para_521","para_522","para_523","para_524"]},{"title":"IV. CONCLUSION","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"For all these reasons, we affirm the district court's","paragraphs":["para_527","para_528"]}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"For the First Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"No. 25-1149","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"REBECCA BLAKESLEY,","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"Plaintiff, Appellee,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"JENNIFER MARCUS; COLLEEN MARCUS,","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"Defendants, Appellants.","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"[Hon. Mark G. Mastroianni, U.S. District Judge]","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Before","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Rikelman, Lynch, and Aframe,","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Michael G. McDonough, with whom Edward J. McDonough Jr., Paul","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"M. Bromwich, and Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, P.C., were on brief, for","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"appellants.","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Shaun M. Khan, with whom Keith L. Sachs and DDSK Law LLC were","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"on brief, for appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"October 31, 2025","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"- 2 -","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"RIKELMAN, Circuit Judge. This case presents difficult","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"questions about the application of the Massachusetts anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"statute.1 In 2021, Colleen and Jennifer Marcus reported alleged","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"misconduct by Rebecca Blakesley, a nurse, to a number of","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"governmental and private organizations. In response, Rebecca sued","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"them for defamation and tortious interference with business","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"relations. She contended that they made false allegations against","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"her in retaliation for her recent decision to dissolve her marriage","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"with Colleen's son.","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"The Marcuses moved to dismiss Rebecca's case under the","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP statute, Massachusetts General Law chapter 231, § 59H.","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"This statute allows defendants to obtain early dismissal of a","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"lawsuit if they can demonstrate that the claims against them were","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"brought to discourage them from exercising their right to petition","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"the government. The district court denied the special motion to","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"dismiss. It concluded that Rebecca's claims were not based solely","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"on \"petitioning activity\" because the Marcuses' reports to the","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"private organizations did not qualify as petitioning, and as a","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"result, the anti-SLAPP statute did not apply. The Marcuses then","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"filed this interlocutory appeal. We choose to bypass the thorny","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"questions surrounding our appellate jurisdiction because we","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"resolve the merits in favor of the party who opposes our","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"1 SLAPP stands for \"strategic lawsuit against public","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"participation.\"","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"- 3 -","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"jurisdiction, Rebecca. Thus, we affirm the district court's","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"ruling.","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"I. BACKGROUND","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"A. Relevant Facts","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"Rebecca Blakesley married Andrew Blakesley in 2019.2 She","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"alleges that Andrew often threatened or abused her throughout their","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"tumultuous relationship, which ended in January 2021. In one","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"episode in April 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Andrew threw a","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"punch that hit Rebecca's hand and broke her finger. According to","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"Rebecca, Andrew then pulled her out of her chair by her hair, threw","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"her on the bed, and struck her in the head, abdomen, and thighs.","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"The next day, Andrew offered to help Rebecca with data entry for","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"her nursing job, given the injury to her finger. She eventually","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"accepted his help, fearful that he would retaliate if she declined.","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"At the time, Rebecca was working under contract as a nurse","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"evaluator with several private healthcare agencies. In her role,","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"she conducted virtual evaluations of patients with disabilities","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"and drafted written reports that she entered into an online portal.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"Rebecca gave Andrew access to these online databases from April to","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"December 2020 so that he could input patient information on her","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"behalf.","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"2 We refer to Rebecca, Andrew, Colleen, and Jennifer by their","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"first names to avoid confusion.","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"- 4 -","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"In the second half of 2020, as the COVID pandemic","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"continued, their relationship deteriorated. One night in early","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"December, Rebecca sought police assistance when Andrew became","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"violent, resulting in Andrew's arrest for domestic assault and","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"battery. Rebecca ended their relationship after this incident.","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"Less than a week later, on December 11, Rebecca received a text","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"from Andrew that read, in part, \"Get ready for the","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"investigation . . . ive [sic] got friends and family who actually","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"care about me who are actually interested in all this. The jig is","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"up [] and I'm not playing your games.\" Rebecca ultimately obtained","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"an abuse prevention order against Andrew on January 7, 2021. Later","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"that month, she filed for divorce.","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"Just days after a state court granted Rebecca a","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"protective order against Andrew, Colleen and Jennifer, Andrew's","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"mother and sister-in-law respectively,3 reported alleged","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"misconduct by Rebecca to various public and private organizations.","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"They claimed that Rebecca had shared confidential patient","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"information in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), § 101(a), 29 U.S.C. § 1181 et","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"seq.; fraudulently billed her time as a nurse evaluator; cheated","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"and committed plagiarism while at nursing school; and faked a COVID","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"test so that she could undergo a medical procedure. Jennifer filed","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"3 Colleen is \"not Andrew's biological mother but she raised","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"him since he was an infant and Andrew considers her his mother.\"","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"- 5 -","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"a report with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"Office of Civil Rights (OCR), on January 15, 2021, and with the","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"State of Connecticut Department of Public Health several days","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"later. She also contacted Rebecca's nursing school and several of","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"Rebecca's private healthcare employers via phone and email to","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"report the same alleged instances of HIPAA violations, fraudulent","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"billing practices, and cheating. On January 25, 2021, Colleen","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"filed a complaint with the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN),","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"which is part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"In her complaint, Colleen explicitly referenced Jennifer's reports","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"to OCR and Rebecca's nursing school.","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"After receiving Colleen's complaint, BORN launched an","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"investigation of the allegations against Rebecca that would last","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"three years. The private healthcare companies terminated","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"Rebecca's employment, and the Commonwealth halted its review of","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"her application to become a licensed psychiatric nurse","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"practitioner.","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"B. Procedural History","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"On January 24, 2024, Rebecca filed this lawsuit against","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"Colleen and Jennifer in federal court, relying on diversity","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. She alleged that the Marcuses","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"maliciously published false statements to destroy her career in","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"retaliation for her decision to divorce Andrew. Count I alleged","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"defamation for the publication of these false statements. Count","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"- 6 -","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"II alleged intentional interference with business relations for","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"depriving Rebecca of her relationships with her previous","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"employers.","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"In response, the Marcuses brought a special motion to","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"dismiss under the Massachusetts anti-SLAPP statute. This statute","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"provides a procedural mechanism for the early dismissal of","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"\"meritless suits brought to discourage individuals from exercising","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"their constitutional right of petition.\" Bristol Asphalt, Co. v.","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"Rochester Bituminous Prods., Inc., 227 N.E.3d 1019, 1026 (Mass.","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"2024) (\"Bristol\").","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"The district court denied the Marcuses' anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"motion to dismiss. It did so after closely examining Bristol, a","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"recent decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC),","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"which explained that the anti-SLAPP statute is not \"applicab[le]","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"to claims with a substantial basis other than or in addition to an","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"individual's exercise of the right of petition.\" Id. at 1026","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"(discussing Duracraft Corp. v. Holmes Prods. Corp., 691 N.E.2d 935","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"(Mass. 1998)). Citing Bristol and other authority, the district","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"court determined that the Marcuses had failed to show that","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"Rebecca's claims of defamation and tortious interference were","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"based solely on their petitioning activity. As the court","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"explained, because the Marcuses' complaints to Rebecca's employers","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"and former school did not qualify as \"petitioning activity,\"","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"- 7 -","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"Rebecca's case against them concerned \"mixed claims,\" and thus the","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP statute did not apply.","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"Colleen and Jennifer timely appealed.","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"II. STANDARD OF REVIEW","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"We consider both (1) whether we have interlocutory","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"jurisdiction over this appeal and, if so, (2) the merits of the","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"district court's ruling denying the anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss.","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"Both of those issues present questions of law. See Lee-Barnes v.","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"Puerto Ven Quarry Corp., 513 F.3d 20, 25-26 (1st Cir. 2008) (citing","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"Will v. Hallock, 546 U.S. 345, 347 (2006)). Thus, we review the","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"district court's ruling de novo. See Steinmetz v. Coyle & Caron,","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"Inc., 862 F.3d 128, 136 (1st Cir. 2017) (citing Godin v. Schencks,","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"629 F.3d 79, 85 (1st Cir. 2010)).","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"As a federal court sitting in diversity jurisdiction, we","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"\"look to [Massachusetts] law for the substantive rules of decision","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"governing [the] state law arguments\" under the anti-SLAPP statute.","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"Smith v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 88 F.4th 40, 47 (1st Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"2023) (citing Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78 (1938)).","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"So \"we endeavor to predict how the Commonwealth's highest court","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"would\" rule on the special motion to dismiss. Lawrence Gen. Hosp.","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"v. Cont'l Cas. Co., 90 F.4th 593, 598 (1st Cir. 2024) (citing Aubee","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"v. Selene Fin. LP, 56 F.4th 1, 4 (1st Cir. 2022)).","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"- 8 -","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"III. DISCUSSION","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"As we explain, we bypass the complicated questions about","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"our statutory appellate jurisdiction over this interlocutory","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"appeal because we resolve the case in favor of Rebecca, the party","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"opposing our jurisdiction.","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"A. Jurisdiction","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"The Marcuses contend we have jurisdiction under the","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"collateral order doctrine, an \"exception to 28 U.S.C. § 1291's","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"statutory grant of jurisdiction over final decisions\" by the","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"district courts. Doe v. Town of Lisbon, 78 F.4th 38, 44 n.2 (1st","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"Cir. 2023). The collateral order doctrine allows review of a","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"\"narrow class of decisions that do not terminate the litigation,","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"but must, in the interest of 'achieving a healthy legal system,'","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"nonetheless be treated as 'final.'\" Digit. Equip. Corp. v. Desktop","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"Direct Inc., 511 U.S. 863, 867 (1994) (citation omitted) (quoting","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"Cobbledick v. United States, 309 U.S. 323, 326 (1940)); see also","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"Lee-Barnes, 513 F.3d at 25. To qualify for review under the","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"collateral order doctrine, an \"interlocutory order must present:","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"(1) a conclusive decision, (2) distinct from the merits of the","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"action, (3) on an important issue, (4) which would effectively be","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"unreviewable on appeal from a final judgment.\" Godin, 629 F.3d at","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"84 (citing Awuah v. Coverall N. Am. Inc., 585 F.3d 479, 480 (1st","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"Cir. 2009)).","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"- 9 -","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"The parties' jurisdictional dispute centers on the","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"second prong of the collateral order test: whether the anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"motion to dismiss raises legal issues that are separate and","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"\"distinct\" from the merits of Rebecca's underlying defamation and","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"tortious interference claims. Id. To answer this question, we","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"must evaluate the interplay between Massachusetts law on","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP motions and the federal collateral order doctrine.","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"The SJC recently clarified the correct legal analysis","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"for special motions to dismiss under the Massachusetts anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"statute. See generally Bristol, 227 N.E.3d 1019. As the SJC made","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"plain in Bristol, its goal was to replace an existing analytical","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"framework that \"ha[d] not provided an efficient or practical","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"solution to the problem it was designed to address\" with a","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"simplified two-stage framework that \"hews to the statutory","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"language.\" Id. at 1027 (the \"Bristol framework\").","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"Under stage one of the Bristol framework, it was the","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"Marcuses' burden (as the proponents of the special motion to","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"dismiss) to make a \"threshold showing through the pleadings and","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"affidavits\" that their conduct, which Rebecca has challenged in","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"this lawsuit, consists solely of their petitioning activity. Id.","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"at 1037 (quoting Duracraft, 691 N.E.2d at 943). If the Marcuses","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"failed to meet this initial burden, it was incumbent upon the","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"district court to deny their special motion to dismiss under","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"Bristol. See id. If they succeeded, then the burden would have","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"- 10 -","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"shifted to Rebecca (as the special motion opponent) to demonstrate,","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"in stage two, that the Marcuses' petitioning activity was \"devoid","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"of any reasonable factual support or any arguable basis in law\"","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"and \"caused [her] actual injury.\" Id. at 1038 (quoting Mass. Gen.","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"Laws ch. 231, § 59H).","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"Here, the district court's analysis of the anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"motion started and ended with stage one of the Bristol framework.","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"The court decided that, \"even assuming the [Marcuses'] decision to","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"report [Rebecca] was petitioning activity, [Rebecca's] claims are","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"not based solely on protected activity. Rather, [the Marcuses]","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"proceeded to also contact [Rebecca's] employers (and potentially","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"her former school) after they had already made the governmental","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"reports.\" The court concluded these \"later efforts,\" targeted at","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"private entities, \"are not petitioning activity\" under","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"Massachusetts law and thus denied the motion. The court closed","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"the order with a reminder that the Marcuses retained the","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"opportunity to assert defenses to Rebecca's claims and move for","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"summary judgment after discovery.","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"With the district court's stage one analysis in mind, we","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"turn back to the question of whether the district court's ruling","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"resolves a \"distinct\" legal issue, separate and apart from the","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"merits of the case, that we can review under the collateral order","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"doctrine. Godin, 629 F.3d at 84. This is a complex question that","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"has divided other federal circuit courts.","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"- 11 -","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"A number of federal courts of appeals have declined to","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"exercise interlocutory jurisdiction over orders denying anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"motions to dismiss. See, e.g., Gopher Media LLC v. Melone, No.","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"24-2626, 2025 WL 2858761 (9th Cir. Oct. 9, 2025) (en banc)","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"(overruling Batzel v. Smith, 333 F.3d 1018 (9th Cir. 2003)); Coomer","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"v. Make Your Life Epic LLC, 98 F.4th 1320 (10th Cir. 2024); Ernst","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"v. Carrigan, 814 F.3d 116 (2d Cir. 2016). In some of these","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"decisions, the courts focused on the equivalent of stage two of","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"the Bristol framework, which requires examining whether the","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"petitioning activity was devoid of any factual or legal support,","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"an analysis that those courts concluded is inevitably intertwined","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"with the merits of the underlying action.4 And even on this issue,","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"the federal circuit courts are split.5","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"4 See Coomer, 98 F.4th at 1327 (rejecting interlocutory","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"jurisdiction over the order denying the anti-SLAPP motion to","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"dismiss because evaluating step two of Colorado's anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"statute, whether the plaintiff has shown that he will prevail on","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"his claim, \"necessarily involve[s] fact weighing and thus cannot","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"be completely separate from the merits\" of the defamation claim);","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"Ernst, 814 F.3d at 119-20 (holding that the denial of relief under","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"Vermont's anti-SLAPP statute was not appealable because step two","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"of the analysis is \"entangled in the facts\" and not completely","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"separate from the merits of the underlying defamation claim).","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"5 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concluded","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"that a ruling denying an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss under a","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"Louisiana statute did satisfy the second prong of the collateral","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"order doctrine, even when considering the factual basis of the","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"claims under stage two. See Henry v. Lake Charles Am. Press,","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"L.L.C., 566 F.3d 164, 175-177 (5th Cir. 2009) (holding that a","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"decision on the Louisiana anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss \"is not a","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"ruling on the ultimate merits; it is merely tangential to the","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"merits,\" and the \"minor possibility of minimal entanglement [of","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"- 12 -","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"We do not wade into this debate today. As our precedent","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"makes clear, we may assume appellate jurisdiction when, as here,","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"the case poses a difficult question of statutory jurisdiction and","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"our decision on the merits will favor the party challenging our","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"jurisdiction. See In re Fin. Oversight & Mgmt. Bd. for P.R., 91","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"F.4th 501, 508-09 (1st Cir. 2024); see also Nisselson v. Lernout,","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"469 F.3d 143, 151 (1st Cir. 2006) (assuming statutory jurisdiction","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"to avoid \"sort[ing] out [the] thorny jurisdictional tangles\" that","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"the collateral order doctrine presents).","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"B. Merits","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"To recap, the district court held that the Marcuses could","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"not survive stage one of the Bristol framework and denied their","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss. Specifically, it concluded that","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"Rebecca alleged \"mixed claims\" that were not based solely on their","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"petitioning activity. The Marcuses insist that the district court","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"erred, arguing that their reports to government agencies plainly","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"qualified as petitioning activity and their reports to Rebecca's","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"private employers were \"made in connection with\" their valid","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"petitioning activity and so are also protected under the anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"statute. (Quoting Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 59H.)","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"The Massachusetts anti-SLAPP statute provides, \"[i]n any","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"case . . . in which a party asserts that the [claims] against [it]","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"the issues] is insufficient to overcome the interests that favor","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"a finding of immediate appealability\").","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"- 13 -","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"are based on [its] exercise of its right of petition under the","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"[C]onstitution of the United States or of the [C]ommonwealth,","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"[that] party may bring a special motion to dismiss.\" Mass. Gen.","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"Laws ch. 231, § 59H. The anti-SLAPP statute defines a party's","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"\"exercise of its right of petition\" as:","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"[A]ny written or oral statement made before or","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"submitted to a legislative, executive, or","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"judicial body, or any other governmental","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"proceeding; any written or oral statement made","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"in connection with an issue under","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"consideration or review by [such body or","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"proceeding]; any statement reasonably likely","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"to encourage consideration or review of an","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"issue by [such body or proceeding]; any","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"statement reasonably likely to enlist public","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"participation in an effort to effect such","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"consideration; or any other statement falling","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"within constitutional protection of the right","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"to petition government.","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"Id.","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"Under the statute, a court \"shall grant\" a special motion","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"to dismiss \"unless the party against whom such special motion is","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"made shows that: (1) the moving party's exercise of its right to","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"petition was devoid of any reasonable factual support or any","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"arguable basis in law and (2) the moving party's acts caused actual","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"injury to the responding party.\" Id. Finally, the statute","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"instructs a court to \"consider the pleadings and supporting and","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"opposing affidavits stating the facts upon which the liability or","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"defense is based\" when making its determination whether to grant","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"the special motion. Id.","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"- 14 -","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"Recently, in Bristol, the SJC emphasized the \"need to","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"clarify and simplify\" the analytical framework for evaluating","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP special motions to dismiss. 227 N.E.3d at 1027. As it","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"explained, over the years, parties had invoked the anti-SLAPP","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"statute in an effort \"to dismiss a wide array of [] claims","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"concerning conduct far afield of the petitioning activity that the","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"[Massachusetts] [l]egislature originally sought to protect.\" Id.","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"at 1026. The court recognized that the complexity of the","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"then-existing framework for analyzing anti-SLAPP motions had","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"detracted from one of the \"principal purposes\" of the statute: \"to","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"obtain the expeditious dismissal of meritless claims that are based","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"on petitioning alone.\" Id. at 1027. Overall, the SJC instructed","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"courts to \"proceed cautiously\" before administering the \"strong","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"medicine\" of granting an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss. Id. at","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"1036. This caution was necessary, the court explained, because","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"\"both proponents and opponents of special motions to dismiss are","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"engaged in petitioning activity,\" given that a plaintiff who files","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"a lawsuit is, of course, exercising their own right of petition.","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"Id.","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"In setting out a new, simplified framework in Bristol,","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"the SJC explicitly held that its goal was to return to the \"narrow","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"and strict construction of the [anti-SLAPP] statute\" initially set","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"out in Duracraft, 691 N.E.2d 935. Bristol, 227 N.E.3d at 1037.","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"Under that approach, the SJC took a strict view \"of § 59H's","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"- 15 -","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"reference to claims 'based on' a party's petitioning","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"activity . . . to 'exclude motions brought against meritorious","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"claims with a substantial basis other than or in addition to the","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"petitioning activities implicated.'\" Id. at 1033 (quoting","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"Duracraft, 691 N.E.2d at 943). As the SJC explained, this focus","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"on whether a case involves claims based on petitioning activity","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"alone is a \"necessary part of a simplified anti-SLAPP framework\"","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"that \"ensures that [a plaintiff's] own petitioning activity is not","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"infringed.\" Id. at 1037.","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"Under the streamlined Bristol framework, the district","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"court was required to evaluate at stage one whether Rebecca's","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"underlying claims were based solely on the Marcuses' petitioning","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"activity. See id. at 1036-37. In performing this analysis, the","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"court was permitted to consider only the Marcuses' alleged conduct,","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"not their motivations for that conduct. See 477 Harrison Ave.,","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"LLC v. Jace Boston, LLC, 74 N.E.3d 1237, 1244-46 (Mass. 2017).","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"The Marcuses argue that all their alleged conduct","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"constitutes petitioning activity, whereas Rebecca maintains that","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"only their complaints to the governmental entities qualify as","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"petitioning. Thus, the parties' disagreement focuses on the","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"complaints to the private entities: Rebecca's employers and her","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"nursing school.","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"According to the Marcuses, their complaints to Rebecca's","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"private employers qualify as petitioning activity because they","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"- 16 -","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"were statements \"made in connection with an issue under","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"consideration\" by the government. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 59H.","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"In particular, they claim the employers were potential \"witnesses\"","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"in any BORN investigation of Rebecca. They offer no argument,","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"however, that their complaints to the nursing school qualify under","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"this provision of section 59H, even though both the district court","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"and Rebecca have emphasized this conduct as one reason why her","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"claims are \"mixed.\"","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"We thus turn to the \"in connection\" requirement. The","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"SJC has stated that for statements to qualify as being \"in","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"connection with an issue under consideration\" by a governmental","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"body, there must be \"a plausible nexus between the statement and","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"the governmental proceeding.\" Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hosp.,","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"Inc., 75 N.E.3d 21, 30 (Mass. 2017), overruled on other grounds","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"by, Bristol, 227 N.E.3d at 1035-36.6 To assess if this \"plausible","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"nexus\" exists, the SJC analyzes \"objective indicia of a party's","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"intent to influence a governmental proceeding,\" such as the timing,","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"audience, and content of the statement. Id. at 30-33. But","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"paramount to the analysis is whether the \"communication [was] 'made","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"to influence, inform, or at the very least, reach governmental","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"bodies -- either directly or indirectly.'\" Id. at 30 (quoting","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"6 The SJC clarified in Bristol that the precedent \"prior to","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"Blanchard[] concerning mixed claims remains sound\" and that the","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"court was \"not upend[ing] [its] jurisprudence concerning other","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"aspects of the threshold inquiry.\" 227 N.E.3d at 1038 n.17.","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"- 17 -","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"Global NAPs, Inc. v. Verizon New England, Inc., 828 N.E.2d 529,","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"532 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005)).","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"The Marcuses claim that their statements to Rebecca's","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"employers qualify under this standard because the employers were","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"likely to be witnesses in any BORN investigation. In support of","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"this contention, they argue that statements they made to","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"\"third[ ]parties\" that merely \"reiterated\" what they reported to","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"the government qualify as part of their petitioning activity. They","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"point to three cases that they maintain stand for this proposition:","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"Blanchard, 75 N.E.3d 21; Plante v. Wylie, 824 N.E.2d 461 (Mass.","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"App. Ct. 2005); and Wynne v. Creigle, 825 N.E.2d 559 (Mass. App.","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"Ct. 2005).","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"The difficulty for the Marcuses, however, is that none","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"of these three cases support their argument. First, none of these","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"cases concern potential witnesses to a governmental proceeding,","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"nor have we found any Massachusetts cases that address whether and","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"when statements to a potential witness would qualify as petitioning","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"activity under the anti-SLAPP statute. Second, the cases do not","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"come close to suggesting that any statements to third parties that","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"merely reiterate a statement to a governmental body qualify as","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"petitioning activity; instead, they stand for much narrower","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"principles. For example, Blanchard and Wynne concern statements","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"to newspapers. See Blanchard, 75 N.E.3d at 32; Wynne, 825 N.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"at 565-66. In Blanchard, the statements were made by a hospital","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"- 18 -","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"president and communicated his views about an ongoing governmental","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"investigation of the hospital. 75 N.E.3d at 31-32. In Wynne,","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"Creigle (the defendant) made the statements to the newspaper in","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"direct response to comments by the plaintiff, the opponent in the","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"underlying governmental proceeding. 825 N.E.2d at 565. What is","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"more, Creigle's statements were \"mirror images\" of what she had","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"reported to the governmental body. Id. at 565-66 (describing","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"Creigle's statements as \"mere repetition[s]\" of those she had","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"already made during the underlying investigation of the","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"plaintiff). On these facts, the courts in both Wynne and Blanchard","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"concluded that the statements to the newspapers were \"in","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"connection\" with the party's own attempts to influence the","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"governmental body.7 Id.; Blanchard, 75 N.E.3d at 30-31. Moving","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"on to Plante, the court in that case held that statements made in","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"settlement negotiations between the two adversaries in a","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"governmental proceeding were \"in connection\" with that proceeding.","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"824 N.E.2d at 463, 467-69. As it explained, statements designed","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"7 To be clear, Massachusetts courts have ruled that statements","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"to the media can qualify under the \"in connection\" provision of","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"the anti-SLAPP statute in some circumstances but not others. For","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"example, in Global NAPS, the court concluded that a statement to","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"the press did not qualify as petitioning activity, even though it","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"was about an ongoing governmental proceeding, because it was merely","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"an \"oblique reference\" to that proceeding and not a \"mirror","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"image[]\" of what was said in the governmental forum. 828 N.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"at 530, 534. As the court explained, not just \"any statement about","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"an issue under some form of government consideration . . . [is]","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"protected by the statute.\" Id. at 532.","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"- 19 -","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"to resolve the governmental proceeding would, inevitably,","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"influence the outcome of that proceeding. Id. at 468-69.","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"We see no basis under Massachusetts law for extending","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"these cases to the facts here or for concluding that the Marcuses'","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"statements to Rebecca's private employers would inevitably","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"influence or reach BORN. Further, the Marcuses have failed to","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"provide any argument at all about why the complaint to Rebecca's","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"school should qualify as petitioning activity, thus waiving any","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"basis for challenging the district court's ruling on that point.","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"See United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 16-17 (1st Cir. 1990);","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"Sparkle Hill, Inc. v. Interstate Mat Corp., 788 F.3d 25, 29 (1st","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"Cir. 2015) (\"Our precedent is clear: we do not consider arguments","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"for reversing a decision of a district court when the argument is","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"not raised in a party's opening brief.\").","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"As a federal court sitting in diversity, we \"must","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"exercise considerable caution when considering the adoption of a","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"new application\" of state law. Doyle v. Hasbro, Inc., 103 F.3d","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"186, 192 (1st Cir. 1996). And because it is \"quintessentially the","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"province of state courts\" to \"extend state law,\" Markham v. Fay,","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"74 F.3d 1347, 1356 (1st Cir. 1996), we decline to do so here by","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"concluding that statements to potential witnesses in governmental","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"proceedings always satisfy the \"in connection\" requirement. Thus,","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"based on the arguments presented, we see no basis for disturbing","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"the district court's ruling that the Marcuses' reports to private","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"- 20 -","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"entities did not qualify as petitioning activity under current","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"Massachusetts law and, as a result, the Marcuses failed to meet","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"their burden at stage one of the Bristol framework. For that","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"reason, we affirm the district court's decision denying the","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss.","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"Finally, the Marcuses point out that Colleen did not","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"personally contact any non-governmental entities, and thus she","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"should prevail on her anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss, even if","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"Jennifer cannot. The district court found it plausible, however,","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"that Colleen and Jennifer coordinated their actions, so it saw no","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"reason to dismiss Colleen at that stage of the proceedings. The","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"Marcuses argue that the district court erred in this analysis.","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"But the pleadings and affidavits support the district court's","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"ruling about coordination between Colleen and Jennifer. As we","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"discussed above, Colleen's complaint to BORN references the","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"complaints that Jennifer filed with OCR and Rebecca's nursing","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"school. The Marcuses provide no legal authority for their position","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"that the district court erred in so concluding, based on its review","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"of their own exhibits filed in support of their special motion to","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"dismiss. And because the SJC instructs \"courts to proceed","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"cautiously\" before applying the \"strong medicine\" of granting an","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss, we determine that the Marcuses have","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"failed to present any well-developed ground to overrule the","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"- 21 -","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"district court's decision on this point. Bristol, 227 N.E.3d at","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"1036.","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"Our holding aligns with the SJC's instruction to take a","paragraph_id":"para_512"},{"text":"narrow view of when claims are \"based on\" a party's exercise of","paragraph_id":"para_513"},{"text":"its right to petition. Id. at 1036-37. As the SJC explained, the","paragraph_id":"para_514"},{"text":"\"powerful procedural protections\" of the anti-SLAPP statute \"were","paragraph_id":"para_515"},{"text":"intended to be employed in a limited context: to ensure the","paragraph_id":"para_516"},{"text":"expeditious elimination of meritless lawsuits based on petitioning","paragraph_id":"para_517"},{"text":"activities alone.\" Id. at 1037. For that reason, \"[m]ixed claims,","paragraph_id":"para_518"},{"text":"that is, those based on a proponent's petitioning along with","paragraph_id":"para_519"},{"text":"substantial conduct other than or in addition to the petitioning","paragraph_id":"para_520"},{"text":"activities, . . . [are] best addressed in the course of ordinary","paragraph_id":"para_521"},{"text":"litigation, where both sides' claims and defenses can be fully","paragraph_id":"para_522"},{"text":"analyzed based on a more complete record, not special motions to","paragraph_id":"para_523"},{"text":"dismiss.\" Id. at 1036. The district court held as much here.","paragraph_id":"para_524"},{"text":"IV. 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