A hospital peer review proceeding to discipline a staff physician is an official proceeding. Statements made at the peer review proceeding are protected speech under CCP 425.16(e). If the plaintiff doctor cannot show a probability of success on the merits of claims based on those statements, the claims must be stricken, but the doctor can still introduce the statements as evidence of discriminatory or retaliatory motive. The discipline imposed is not protected by CCP 425.16(e), so the doctor’s claim that the discipline was imposed for a discriminatory or retaliatory reason cannot be stricken under CCP 425.16. Pre-suit settlement negotiations are protected. Actions taken pursuant to or in breach of the settlement agreement are not protected unless they are so for a different reason. Here, an alleged breach by reporting the doctor to the Medical Board was separately protected.