United States Sixth Circuit

In a high school English teacher's suit against a school district and individuals for First Amendment retaliation, claiming that certain disciplinary actions were taken against him for initiating a lawsuit against another teacher on behalf of his daughter for harassment, summary judgment for defendants is affirmed where: 1) plaintiff has not presented evidence sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact in support of causation element of his section 1983 claim against the individual defendants; and 2) because the individual defendants did not violate plaintiff's constitutional rights under the First Amendment, he cannot rely on their conduct to establish a claim of municipal liability.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/14/2009
• Decided 06/18/2010
• Published 06/18/2010

Judges

• Before GILMAN and GIBBONS, Circuit Judges; ANDERSON, District Judge.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Rick J. Patterson, Potter, Deagostino, O'Dea & Patterson, Auburn Hills, Michigan, for Appellant. Kevin T. Sutton, Lusk & Albertson, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for Appellees. ON BRIEF:Rick J. Patterson, Steven M. Potter, Potter, Deagostino, O'Dea & Patterson, Auburn Hills, Michigan, for Appellant. Kevin T. Sutton, Robert A. Lusk, Lusk & Albertson, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Carl F. Jarboe, Abbott Nicholson, P.C., Detroit, Michigan, for Appellees.