Opinion ID: 740298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Genuine Issue of Material Fact as to Defendants' Conduct

Text: 22 We analyze First Amendment retaliatory demotion claims under a four-part test: (1) whether the employee's speech involves a matter of public concern, (2) whether the employee's interest in speaking outweighs the government's legitimate interest in efficient public service; (3) whether the speech played a substantial part in the government's challenged employment decision, and (4) whether the government would have made the same employment decision in the absence of the protected conduct. Beckwith v. City of Daytona Beach Shores, 58 F.3d 1554, 1563-64 (11th Cir.1995) (citing Bryson v. City of Waycross, 888 F.2d 1562, 1565-66 (11th Cir.1989)). 23 First, we examine the content, form, and context of the employee's speech to determine whether it addresses a matter of public concern. Bryson, 888 F.2d at 1565. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Walker, Walker spoke with the legislators because he was concerned with how Vista funds were being spent. [A] core concern of the first amendment is the protection of the 'whistle-blower' attempting to expose government corruption. Id. at 1566. Walker spoke at a meeting with elected public officials about improving the services Vista provides to the public. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Walker, his speech was on a matter of public concern. 24 Second, Walker had a significant interest in speaking with the legislators in order to prevent harm to the Vista program and the community it serves. Defendants argue they have a significant interest in enforcing the anti-nepotism policy. This is beside the point. The issue is whether the government has an interest in preventing the speech. Whether the government had valid reasons for its actions is only relevant to the third part of the test. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Walker, defendants have no legitimate reason for preventing Walker's speech. The second element of the Bryson test is satisfied. 25 Third, an employee's initial burden to demonstrate that a retaliatory intent was a substantial factor behind the government's employment decision is not a heavy one. Beckwith, 58 F.3d at 1565. Walker has produced evidence that Dean had a motive to retaliate against Walker because his speech led to the investigation that led to Dean's resignation. The investigation embarrassed members of the Walker County Board of Health. The Board asked Schwalbe to investigate Mrs. Walker's contract. Schwalbe had a motive to retaliate because he answered to Dean and the Board. 26 There is a genuine issue as to which nepotism policy was in effect when Mrs. Walker was hired. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Walker, he did not violate any applicable policy. Even if the broader anti-nepotism policy was in effect, Walker still received a severe penalty where it appears he did everything he could to make sure he was acting within Vista regulations. In addition, the second of the two reasons given for the demotion, that Walker was negligent and inefficient for having a subordinate check with a superior about the proper regulations, is illogical considering the situation. Walker may well have been attempting to make sure that there was no actual impropriety and no appearance of it, but we do not resolve questions of fact. 27 Finally, adverse employment actions were also taken against Taylor and Swafford, the other two Vista employees who met with the legislators. From this evidence a factfinder could reasonably conclude that the people who spoke with the legislators were punished for doing so. 28 Defendants have presented credible evidence that Walker only talked with the legislators out of concern for his own job and that he was only fired for violating the anti-nepotism policy. However, viewed in the light most favorable to Walker, the facts demonstrate that his speech played a substantial role in his demotion. Walker has satisfied the third element of the Bryson test. 29 Fourth, reasonable inferences from the same evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to Walker, show that the defendants would not have taken the same action in the absence of Walker's protected conduct. 30 The district court could properly conclude that, viewed in the light most favorable to Walker, the circumstantial and direct evidence produced by Walker established that he was demoted in retaliation for his speech.