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Free Speech

Aug 9, 2023

Judge: Southwest failed to follow order in free-speech case

DALLAS — A judge has sanctioned Southwest Airlines, writing that the airline twisted his words and disregarded his order in the case of a flight attendant who claimed that she was fired for expressing her opposition to abortion. U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr found Southwest in contempt for the way it explained the case to […]

Jun 1, 2023

Court: No lawsuit immunity for Michigan official who had rifle during online meeting

DETROIT (AP) — A lawsuit can go forward against a Michigan official who flashed a rifle during a public meeting over video conference, a federal appeals court said Wednesday. Patricia MacIntosh is suing Ron Clous, alleging he tried to silence her right to free speech when he displayed the rifle during a 2021 meeting of […]

Aug 21, 2018

Constitutional – Expression not chilled by school’s initial inquiry

A university did not restrict or chill students’ speech by seeking their response to complaints that they had harassed others. The students, who’d sought and obtained university approval for a campus “Free Speech Event,” met with an official to discuss allegations of sexism and racism at the event. After the meeting, the University concluded no […]

Aug 21, 2018

Inquiries into alleged harassment didn’t violate 1st Amendment

The University of South Carolina didn’t violate student groups’ First Amendment rights by making inquiries into harassment allegations after a rally for “free speech,” the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 16. The appeals court unanimously upheld the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina’s opinion that because the university approved […]

Oct 5, 2017

Constitutional – Free Speech – Charleston Tour Guides – Tourist Protection

  Billups v. City of Charleston (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-147-17, 28 pp.) (David Norton, J.) 2:16-cv-00264; D.S.C. Holding: Even though a jury could find that Charleston’s requirement that tour guides pass a test and be licensed is the city’s way of ensuring that its preferred version of history is passed on to tourists, a jury […]

Jul 17, 2017

Constitutional – Free Speech – College Libertarians – Offended Students – Investigation – Amended Policies

Abbott v. Pastides (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-080-17, 23 pp.) (Margaret Seymour, S.J.) 3:16-cv-00538; D.S.C. Holding: When plaintiffs’ Young Americans for Liberty held a “Free Speech Event” on the University of South Carolina campus – the visual displays for which included the word “wet back” and a picture of a swastika – other students complained to […]

Jul 11, 2017

Civil Rights – Applicant Had No ‘Free Speech’ Right

Buxton v. Kurtinitis (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-151-17, 20 pp.) (Floyd, J.) No. 16-1826, July 7, 2017; USDC at Baltimore, Md. (Motz, J.) 4th Cir. Holding: Although the director of admissions for a community college radiation therapist program said plaintiff applicant “brought up religion a great deal during the interview” for admission to the program, plaintiff […]

Jul 11, 2016

Both sides dealt setback in tour guide free-speech lawsuit

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A federal judge has dealt both sides a setback in a free-speech challenge to a tour-guide licensing ordinance in historic Charleston. U.S. District Judge David Norton issued an order allowing the city to still enforce the ordinance but also denying a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed. The judge has set […]

Apr 19, 2016

Freedom to tell tales? Tour license dispute before judge

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The latest round in the controversy over licensing tour guides in historic cities is scheduled to play out in a federal courtroom in South Carolina. A judge holds a hearing Tuesday on a lawsuit challenging Charleston’s tour guide licensing ordinance. The suit contends requiring guides to have city licenses violates First […]

Mar 28, 2016

Charleston: Tour licenses regulate business, not free speech

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Attorneys say Charleston’s ordinance requiring tour guides to have a license has nothing to do with restricting freedom of speech but is about regulating business in the city. Three people asked a federal judge earlier this year to find the licensing requirement unconstitutional. Their lawsuit argues that granting tour licenses only […]

Feb 3, 2016

Civil Rights – Sign Ordinance Violates Free Speech

Central Radio Co. v. City of Norfolk, Va. (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-019-16, 24 pp.) (Keenan, J.) No. 13-1996, Jan. 29, 2016; On Remand from USSC; 4th Cir. Holding: The 4th Circuit says a city’s enforcement of its sign ordinance violated the free speech rights of a radio repair business that displayed a 375-square-foot protest banner […]

Nov 3, 2015

Fired public defender sues former boss

The working relationship between the head public defender and chief prosecutor in the state’s 9th Judicial Circuit has generated controversy, several ethics complaints, and now a new bombshell federal lawsuit.

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