1A Docket First Amendment · Utah

Utah Supreme Court · 2026 UT 7, 2026 WL 900920

Aston v. Chronicle-Progress LLC

Granted in part UPEPA

Forum: Utah Supreme Court
Case number: 2026 UT 7, 2026 WL 900920
Motion decided: Apr 2, 2026
Outcome: Granted in part
Conduct at issue: Newspaper reporting on a developer's history of failed business deals and bankruptcies
Underlying claims: Defamation

What the court held

On first impression the court held that the phrase related to the motion in Section 78B-25-110 limits recovery to expenses reasonably necessary to prosecute the special motion, not the entire litigation.
The district court had granted the motion and awarded roughly $394,000 covering essentially all work in the case, without a task-by-task analysis.
Remanded for recalculation.

Docket · filings

9 filings

Apr 16, 2024Defendant

The special motionMotion for expedited relief

May 28, 2024Plaintiff

OppositionReply in opposition

Jun 18, 2024Defendant

Reply in supportReply in support

Sep 24, 2024Court

The rulingDistrict court ruling

Oct 17, 2024Defendant

FeesMotion for attorney fees, costs, and expenses

Oct 31, 2024Plaintiff

FeesMemorandum in opposition to the fee motion

Nov 14, 2024Defendant

FeesReply in support of the fee motion

Dec 23, 2024Court

FeesOrder granting the motion for attorney fees, costs, and expenses

Apr 2, 2026Court

AppealOpinion

Source

Other UPEPA matters

BAM Franchising v. Schneider
Brunette v. Engemann and Jeff Jenkins Productions
Tanner v. Deininger
The Preserve v. Kamas City

Not legal advice. Deadlines in your case may differ. Talk to a lawyer.