Camille Vasquez and Sam Moniz led a Sheppard litigation team that secured the complete dismissal of defamation and extortion claims brought against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee and The Buzbee Law Firm in a highly publicized lawsuit filed by American music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, a win that led Daily Journal to select it as a “Top Verdict of 2025.”
The case arose from Carter’s claims that Buzbee’s pre-litigation communications and advocacy on behalf of a Jane Doe client gave rise to defamation liability. Carter alleged that Buzbee attempted to blackmail him with false accusations and that Buzbee sent him a letter proposing a confidential monetary settlement and threatening to “immediately file” a “public lawsuit” unless the parties reached terms.
After extensive litigation, Judge Mark H. Epstein granted the firm’s special motion to strike pursuant to California’s anti-SLAPP statute—an outcome that reaffirms litigation privilege as a critical function in investigating claims, communicating with potential witnesses and engaging in pre-suit advocacy without fear that these efforts will later be recast as tortious conduct. The court’s analysis also underscores that advocacy does not lose its protected status merely because it occurs before a complaint is filed or attracts public attention.
“Sam led the oral advocacy on the anti-SLAPP motion, ensuring the court had a clear, principled path to dismissal,” Vasquez said in the Daily Journal. “His precision and courtroom presence were instrumental in bringing the case to an early and decisive close.”
The case is Carter v. The Buzbee Law Firm et al.