Employment & Labor Law
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Total First Amendment Cases: 7
In St. Louis, the plaintiff was an African-American employee working as an Associate Controller of Contracts and Grants at the Florida International University (FIU). Sands was the CEO of the Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) at FIU. St. Louis at 2.
The plaintiff alleged that while he was employed at FIU, he informed his supervisors of several federal guideline violations. He said he attempted to bring changes to the Sponsored Research Dept and bring HCET into compliance. Id.
FIU was undergoing a federal audit from early 2000 to mid- 2004. The plaintiff was even called to testify before the US Dept. Of Justice regarding the problems FIU was having. Eventually, the Federal Government fined FIU eleven million dollars. St. Louis at 3.
Afterwards, plaintiff's department was transferred to the Academic Affairs/Sponsored Research section at FIU, where the defendant became the plaintiff's direct supervisor. The defendant had plaintiff transferred to his division, where he was later told that the plaintiff's actions had hurt FIU's defense against the findings of the Dept. Of Health and Human Services audit. St. Louis at 3-4.
Shortly after, plaintiff was informed that the defendant decided to terminate plaintiff's position. He was told it was due to the negative reaction to the investigation and the university needed to look for more qualified employees for that department. St. Louis at 4.
The plaintiff eventually left his post stating that he needed to think about his future and family's financial security. He filed a two count complaint. Count 1 was violation of 42 USC 1981; the 2nd count was a violation of 42 USC 1983
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Plaintiff is a psychologist who worked for Eckerd Youth Development Center, a private juvenile rehabilitative school that contracted with the Department of Juvenile Justice. Plaintiff sued her former employer in federal court, asserting violations of her First Amendment rights under 42 U.S.C.
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A firefighter employed by DeKalb County was involved in a verbal exchange with the County Chief Executive Officer while engaged in off-duty union picketing. The Fire Chief suspended the firefighter for conduct unbecoming. Under the plaintiff
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Plaintiff was successful at trial with his retaliation claim against his former employer, City of Riviera. The appellate court found that the trial court had erred by failing to grant motions for judgment as a matter of law on the Title VII retaliation claims where no reasonable jury could find even circumstantial evidence that would suggest the plaintiff
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Plaintiff was successful at trial with his retaliation claim against his former employer, City of Riviera. The appellate court found that the trial court had erred by failing to grant motions for judgment as a matter of law on the Title VII retaliation claims where no reasonable jury could find even circumstantial evidence that would suggest the plaintiff
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Former USF professor alleged that his First Amendment rights were violated by the Board of Regents when they engaged in alleged acts of retaliation following his complaints to the Florida Ethics Commission regarding certain university affairs. The court followed the well established precedent that a state and its agencies are immune from 42 U.S.C. 1983 suits. Qualified immunity attached to the government actors because the plaintiff
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Former USF professor alleged that his First Amendment rights were violated by the Board of Regents when they engaged in alleged acts of retaliation following his complaints to the Florida Ethics Commission regarding certain university affairs. The court followed the well established precedent that a state and its agencies are immune from 42 U.S.C. 1983 suits. Qualified immunity attached to the government actors because the plaintiff
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