United States Sixth Circuit

Courts may require plaintiffs to merely produce specific, nonconclusory allegations of improper motive before discovery in cases where wrongful motive must be shown, and in which defendant raises the defense of qualified immunity. Actions for retaliation based on free speech rights were incorrectly dismissed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/25/2002
• Published 07/25/2002

Judges

• Before: BOGGS and MOORE, Circuit Judges;  RUSSELL, District Judge.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Alan S. Belkin (briefed), Diane M. Gonda, Alan Belkin Co., Cleveland, OH, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Jack W. Decker (argued and briefed), Office of the Attorney General, Employment Law Section, Columbus, OH, Margaret Telb DiSalle, Office of the Ohio Attorney General, Employment Law, Toledo, OH, for Defendants-Appellees.