One right-of-association count goes too far

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted February 10, 2020 3:08 PM

Based on an important distinction between right-of-association claims derived from the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel dismissed Count 4 of Melissa Hopfinger’s complaint against nine defendants — the city of Nashville, its police chief, mayor and six members of the city council — for allegedly violating her First Amendment rights by firing her as retaliation for statements by her husband objecting to allegedly unlawful conduct by Police Chief …

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