Opinion ID: 2994566
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The City’s Interest

Text: The district court found that the city’s interest in promoting efficient and effective public service outweighed Plaintiff’s right to express herself. Myers, 51 F.Supp.2d at 928. However, in doing so, the district court resolved disputed issues of material fact in the defendant’s favor, thereby rendering summary judgment improper. To answer the second part of the Pickering test, we have identified seven factors to consider. See Kokkinis v. Ivkovich, 185 F.3d 840, 845 (7th Cir. 1999); Wright v. Illinois Dep’t of Children & Fam. Servs., 40 F.3d 1492, 1502 (7th Cir. 1994). Among those relevant to the summary judgment in this case are whether the speech created disharmony in the workplace and whether the employment relationship requires personal loyalty and confidence. See id. Both of these factors were influenced by the question of whether Myers had been given a clear directive not to discuss the issue further. The district court disregarded this question rather than resolve it in Myers’ favor. In the district court’s opinion, the issue was irrelevant because Hasara reasonably believed that Myers had been given the order. We disagree. Myers was suspended for violating a superior’s order, an offense that undoubtedly raises a legitimate governmental interest. However, the parties dispute whether Myers was given this order. If she was not, then her remarks to the mall manager were not in violation of a clear directive, and the governmental interest in having employees follow orders and accurately portray the agency’s policies was not implicated. Therefore, this issue goes to the heart of Myers’ complaint and should have been resolved in her favor for purposes of summary judgment. The district court further found that Myers’ actions created disharmony because city officials disagreed about how or whether she should be punished. Myers, 51 F.Supp.2d at 928. This analysis treats the disharmony factor in a Pickering claim in a way that could prevent plaintiffs from ever prevailing. The disharmony that undermines the government interest in efficient and effective service stems from the content of the speech itself, such as by undermining public confidence in the agency or contradicting the agency’s public message. We would imagine that in most Pickering claims, government officials debated the proper punishment for the speaker. This cannot be the source of the relevant disruption or disharmony since it would weigh against every plaintiff. Just as disharmony was present when the superiors discussed Myers’ punishment, it would have been absent had they not sought to punish her. Another factor to consider in balancing the government’s interest is whether the time, place or manner of the employee’s speech disrupted the government’s provision of services. See Coady v. Steal, 187 F.3d 727, 731 (7th Cir. 1999); Wright, 40 F.3d 1502. This analysis questions whether the employee could have aired her concerns at a better time or in a better way and created unnecessary confusion or turmoil by expressing herself in the way she did. Cf. Khuans v. School Dist. 110, 123 F.3d 1010, 1017 (7th Cir. 1997) (holding that teacher’s complaints disrupted daily routine of school); Breuer v. Hart, 909 F.2d 1035, 1040 (7th Cir. 1990) (explaining that complaint was filed in an appropriate manner, even though it legitimately addressed a matter of public concern). The district court applied this factor in the defendants’ favor because it found that Myers expressed her concerns to a limited audience that could not change city policy but could render economic harm to Parsons’. However, the fact that she spoke to a limited audience was not particularly disruptive to the government. In fact, her actions seemed discreet, in that she could have chosen far more disruptive forums, such as writing a letter to the local newspaper or appearing at a city council meeting. By Myers’ action, the mall management and Parsons’ may have complained to the city about the permit problem, but this seems a very limited form of disruption. Also, the district court noted that the mall manager believed Myers’ comments were motivated by frustration with the city. This latter conclusion merely speaks to Myers’ intent and is irrelevant to whether Myers chose the appropriate time, place and manner for her remarks. Assuming that Myers chose this forum, rather than had it chosen for her by the mall manager, it seems to be the least disruptive forum she could have picked. In addition, there were several factual questions regarding the conversation Myers had with the mall manager that the district court resolved against Myers, rather than in her favor as required on a summary judgment motion.