Opinion ID: 780595
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Camacho's Standing to Assert Fuentes' First Amendment Rights

Text: 17 Defendants' argument that Camacho lacks third-party standing to assert Fuentes' First Amendment claims need not detain us long. A plaintiff may assert the constitutional claims of a third party if the plaintiff can demonstrate: (1) injury to the plaintiff, (2) a close relationship between the plaintiff and the third party that would cause plaintiff to be an effective advocate for the third party's rights, and (3) some hindrance to the third party's ability to protect his or her own interests. Campbell v. Louisiana, 523 U.S. 392, 397, 118 S.Ct. 1419, 140 L.Ed.2d 551 (1998). Here, it cannot be gainsaid that Camacho satisfies all three of these elements. First, in awarding Camacho $46,500 in compensatory damages, the jury found that Camacho was injured when he was fired, and Defendants do not challenge that factual finding on appeal. Second, as noted above, Camacho and Fuentes maintained a very close professional and personal relationship. For example, Camacho worked on Fuentes' political campaigns from 1986 to 1999. When Camacho was hired to work for the City Council, it was at Fuentes' specific request for Camacho to work as his aide. Moreover, Defendants' testimony established that Fuentes' affiliation with the Minority Coalition and his vote against the budget proposal were closely related to Camacho's continued employment. Before Camacho's termination, Defendants warned Camacho that his job was in jeopardy if Fuentes continued to position himself with the Minority Coalition against Defendants' proposals. As the vote on the budget proposal drew near, Minority Leader Brandon communicated the implied threat that, if Fuentes voted against the proposal, she would retaliate against Fuentes by firing Camacho. Then, only twelve hours after Fuentes voted against the proposal, Minority Leader Brandon terminated Camacho, telling him that he had Fuentes to thank for his termination. There is ample evidence to conclude that Camacho had a close working relationship with Fuentes and that Defendants linked Camacho's continued employment with Fuentes' political affiliation and vote. Accordingly, Camacho is in a good position to be an effective proponent of Fuentes' asserted rights. 18 Finally, Fuentes may be hindered in vindicating his own alleged rights. Fuentes clearly suffered injury in fact based on the firing of his trusted aide. In addition, Fuentes may be more likely to cast his votes in favor of Majority Coalition positions out of fear of future retaliation. Fuentes is inhibited from seeking redress for these injuries because of the absence of any direct economic harm to him from Camacho's firing, see Camacho I, 69 F.Supp.2d at 551 n. 5, and the possibility that instituting litigation on his own behalf may only incur further retribution. Accordingly, we reject Defendants' argument that Camacho lacks third-party standing to assert whatever First Amendment claims Fuentes may have.