Michael Shames fails to show in his lawsuit against UCAN

Michael Shames, cofounder and former head of Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), earlier filed libel suits against UCAN and Mike Aguirre, attorney for two whistleblowers who exposed problems within UCAN.

Both defendants filed anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) responses, essentially claiming Shames's suits were intended to intimidate the defendants. Shames lost both cases. One case remained: Shames's case against David Peffer, the primary whistleblower.

Superior Court judge Ronald Prager issued a tentative decision November 14, noting that since Shames did not respond to defendants' anti-SLAPP motion, Peffer's motion is granted and his attorney should serve a motion for attorney fees and costs.