United States Seventh Circuit

In a former firefighter's suit alleging violation of his due process rights, violation of his First Amendment rights by terminating him for engaging in pro-union speech, as well as wrongfully termination and defamation under Illinois state law, summary judgment for defendants is reversed where: 1) the Act grants a firefighter an entitlement to continued employment in the absence of cause for discharge after the firefighter has held the position for one year; and 2) plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence that, but for his protected pro-union speech, the members of the Board of Trustees of the District, influenced by the Chief, would not have voted to terminate his employment.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/05/2008
• Decided 05/10/2010
• Published 05/10/2010

Judges

• ROVNER, Circuit Judge., Before EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge, and RIPPLE and ROVNER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Gregory J. Abbott, Downers Grove, IL, for KODISH, Plaintiff-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Stephen H. Dinolfo, Ottosen, Britz, Kelly, Cooper & Gilbert, Naperville, IL, for Defendants-Appellees.