Explore 30 court opinions on Public Employee Speech. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
30 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Public Employee Speech Not Protected if Not Matter of Public Concern
Kenneth Karwacki v. Josh Kaul, decided by Seventh Circuit on April 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction, f...
Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of DOJ Employee's First Amendment Retaliation Lawsuit, Remands for Further Review
This case involves Ryan Steinhoff, a former employee of the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), who sued his supervisor, Matthew Malovrh, alleging that Malovrh retaliated against him for exercising...
Appeals Court Reverses Summary Judgment, Allowing Former City Employee's First Amendment Retaliation Claim to Proceed
This case involves Daniel Grady, a former employee of the City of Wyoming, who sued his supervisor, John Cratsenburg, alleging that Cratsenburg violated his First Amendment rights by retaliating again...
Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Supervisor in First Amendment Retaliation Case
Norberto Torres, a former employee of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), sued his supervisor, Kent Brookman, alleging that Brookman retaliated against him for exercising his First Amend...
Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Supervisor in First Amendment Retaliation Case
Norberto Torres, a former employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), sued his supervisor, Kent Brookman, alleging that Brookman retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendmen...
Seventh Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in IDOC Retaliation Case, Finding Factual Dispute on Employee's Protected Speech
This case involves John Hawkins, a former employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), who sued his supervisor, Mark Sevier, for retaliation under the First Amendment. Hawkins claimed th...
Officer's internal complaints not protected speech, CA5 rules
Cambric v. City of Corpus Christi, decided by Fifth Circuit on March 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the Cit...
Appeals Court Reverses Qualified Immunity for Supervisor in Retaliation Lawsuit, Allowing Case to Proceed
This case involves Scot Gaither, a former employee of the City of Memphis, who sued his supervisor, Tim Lane, alleging that Lane retaliated against him for reporting a hostile work environment. Gaithe...
Tenth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment for City on Police Officer's First Amendment Retaliation Claim, Affirms for Individual Officers
This case involved a former police officer, Armendariz, who sued the City of Colorado Springs and several individual defendants, alleging various claims including violations of his First Amendment rig...
Appeals Court Reverses Summary Judgment, Finds Dispute Over Whether Employee's Whistleblower Speech Was Protected
This case involves Luther Poynter, a former employee of the Kentucky Department of Corrections, who sued his supervisor, Aaron Bennett, alleging that Bennett retaliated against him for exercising his ...
Teacher's Discrimination Claim Fails on Pretext
Scott Williams v. Addison Cmty. Schs., decided by Sixth Circuit on March 2, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the ...
Police officer's speech to press not protected by First Amendment
Potek v. City of Chicago, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on February 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, a former Chicago police officer, sued the City of Chicago and in...
Speech made as part of official duties not protected by First Amendment
Christopher Kohls v. Keith Ellison, decided by Eighth Circuit on February 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a former Minnesota...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of DACA Rescission Challenge
Natl. Assoc. of Diversity Officers in Higher Edu. v. Donald Trump, decided by Fourth Circuit on February 6, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's ...
NYPD officer's retaliation claim fails; speech not of public concern
Knight v. City of New York, decided by Second Circuit on January 13, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former NYPD officer,...
Speech as Official Duty: Officer's Report Not Protected by First Amendment
Kleinman v. City of Cedar Park, decided by Fifth Circuit on December 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the Cit...
Speech as Official Duty: Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Retaliation Case
Liao v. Bondi, decided by Fifth Circuit on December 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the defendant, Bondi, in...
Officer's internal complaints not protected speech, court rules
Baroni v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, decided by Second Circuit on December 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought ...
Former employee fails to show ADA violation in termination, preliminary injunction denied
Shannon Wayne Agofsky v. Deanna Baysore, decided by Seventh Circuit on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary...
Officer's internal complaints not protected speech, Ninth Circuit rules
Hawatmeh v. City of Henderson, decided by Ninth Circuit on November 7, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a fo...
Officer's internal complaints not protected speech under First Amendment
Clark v. City of Pasadena, decided by Fifth Circuit on November 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the City of P...
Police entitled to qualified immunity for resisting arrest arrest
Scott Kampas v. City of St. Louis, Missouri, decided by Eighth Circuit on October 31, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgm...
Police Officer's Retaliation Claim Fails on Summary Judgment
Earnise Pam v. City of Evansville, decided by Seventh Circuit on September 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to...
First Circuit Affirms Denial of Injunction Against Florida's "Stop WOKE Act"
Lopez-Gomez v. Bondi, decided by First Circuit on September 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The First Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by ...
NYPD Officer's Speech Not Protected by First Amendment, Court Rules
Frey v. City of New York, decided by Second Circuit on September 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a former NYPD officer,...
Officer's First Amendment Claim Revived After Retaliatory Discharge Claim Dismissed
Sciarrone v. Village of Island Lake, Illinois, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on September 18, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The plaintiff, a former police officer, sued the Village of Islan...
Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of First Amendment Retaliation Claim
Steven Albert v. Brooke Lierman, decided by Fourth Circuit on September 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a First Amendment r...
Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Professor's First Amendment Claims Against NJIT
Jason Jorjani v. New Jersey Institute of Technology, decided by Third Circuit on September 8, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jason Jorjani's law...
Fifth Circuit: School employee's speech not protected if not matter of public concern
Jane Doe 1 v. City View Indep Sch Dist, decided by Fifth Circuit on September 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit broug...
Ninth Circuit Upholds California's Assault Weapons Ban
Lopez v. Bondi, decided by Ninth Circuit on August 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by plaintiff...