Opinion ID: 2973451
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Gowan

Text: The alleged adverse actions against Gowan are two written reprimands she received in January 2004 and various changes in her employment conditions,3 which Gowan claims demonstrate disparate treatment in retaliation for her speech. These changes include a requirement that she take an escort with her when fulfilling certain duties outside of the jail. The reprimands were the first she had received during her tenure with the department. Even assuming that these actions are sufficient to “chill a person of ordinary firmness from continuing to engage in the activity,” Leary, 228 F.3d at 737 (quotation omitted), she fails to create 3 Gowan resigned only after filing the lawsuit at bar. Thus, any alleged constructive termination cannot be considered an adverse employment action in this case. -9- a genuine issue as to whether her speech motivated Giles County’s actions. Holley did not receive the reprimands until January 2004–nearly nine months after the personal injury suits were filed. Once again, such a substantial time lag, without more, is insufficient to survive summary judgment. See Farmer, 295 F.3d at 602; Bailey, 106 F.3d at 145. Moreover, the record makes no connection between her speech and the adverse actions. The new “escort” requirement was announced to all departmental secretaries in a memorandum that included changes in working conditions applicable to all. While Gowan received a written reprimand regarding the use of department telephones for personal calls, the reprimand states that “Sheriff Bass allows personal phone calls with a two-minute time restriction as noted in a memo by Sheriff Bass.” In other words, the reprimand was intended to enforce an existing departmental policy of general application. Thus, Gowan has provided no evidence (other than her own conclusory statements) to support her allegation of disparate treatment. Nor has she presented any other evidence of a direct link between the adverse actions and her speech. Therefore, Gowan has failed to generate a genuine issue of material fact that Giles County acted in retaliation for her speech.