Larry Iser and Allen Secretov secured a full defense win for California Senator Susan Rubio and California Assemblyperson Blanca Rubio in the lawsuit brought by former Assemblyman, and Senator Rubio’s ex-husband, Roger Hernandez. On September 11, 2025, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the Rubios on all remaining claims against them.
Since being elected to the California Senate in 2018, Senator Rubio has partnered with her sister Assemblyperson Blanca Rubio to pass and champion legislation aimed at increasing the protections available to victims of domestic violence. In doing so, Senator Rubio has been open about her own experience as a domestic violence survivor in the hopes that sharing her story will encourage victims to break out of their cycle of abuse.
In May 2022, Mr. Hernandez filed a lawsuit against the Rubios, claiming they had defamed him by making statements to the public that Mr. Rodriguez had committed various acts of domestic violence against Senator Rubio, and Mr. Rodriguez sought to have the Rubios enjoined from speaking about Senator Rubio’s personal experience as a domestic violence survivor. KHIKS responded with an anti-SLAPP motion to strike the defamation claims, arguing that Mr. Hernandez could not make the necessary showing that the Rubios’ statements were false or made with actual malice, and therefore should not be allowed to bring such a claim which aims to restrict their freedom of speech on a vital matter of public concern. Following a September 7, 2022 hearing during which Mr. Secretov argued on behalf of the Rubios, Los Angeles Superior Judge Peter Hernandez issued an order granting the Anti-SLAPP motion, striking Mr. Hernandez’ defamation claims.
On September 11, 2025, Los Angeles Superior Judge Allison Westfahl Kong disposed of Plaintiff’s remaining interference claims. Plaintiff had alleged intentional interference with his contractual and prospective economic relations with his client Alliance Building Solutions, claiming that the Rubios conspired with El Monte City officials and staff to prevent his client from receiving an energy services contract with the City, causing the loss of his consulting fees and future business. In granting the Rubios’ motion for summary judgment, the Court found no evidence of interference by the Rubios, and that Hernandez’s claimed economic expectancy was “too speculative” as a matter of law.
With the summary judgment ruling, KHIKS achieved a complete defense win for the Rubios before trial.
For more information, please read coverage of the win in the Daily Journal (subscription required).
