Opinion ID: 737952
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liberty

Text: 20 Carmen also contends statements made by defendants in conjunction with Carmen's termination deprived him of a constitutional right to be free from stigmatizing comments. The district court concluded genuine issues of material fact existed as to this claim because discovery had not been completed. Although we have no jurisdiction to determine the factual issues, we can determine whether Carmen had a right to be free from stigmatizing comments. We undertake this task because a § 1983 cause of action may be dismissed before discovery commences if a plaintiff fails to allege violations of clearly-established rights. Doe, 54 F.3d at 1450. 21 The district court framed Carmen's allegation as the right to be free of stigmatizing accusations of moral turpitude in conjunction with a violation of a constitutional right. On the facts before us, the underlying constitutional right would be Carmen's termination without adequate pre-deprivation procedures. 22 The law on Fourteenth Amendment liberty interests was well settled when defendants allegedly made statements about Carmen. [One's] liberty interest is implicated ... when the state makes a 'charge against him that might seriously damage his standing and associations in his community.'  Vanelli v. Reynolds School Dist. No. 7, 667 F.2d 773, 777 n. 5 (9th Cir.1982) (quoting Stretten v. Wadsworth Veterans Hosp., 537 F.2d 361, 365 (9th Cir.1976)). A liberty interest is also affected if an individual's good name, reputation, honor, or integrity is at stake, or when the government action stigmatizes the individual, effectively foreclosing his freedom to take advantage of other employment opportunities. Roth v. Veteran's Admin. 856 F.2d 1401, 1411 (internal citations omitted). In addition, accusations involving a person's reputation for honesty or morality will also implicate due process liberty interests. Vanelli v. Reynolds School Dist. No. 7, 667 F.2d at 777. 23 Accordingly, Carmen's right to be free from stigmatizing comments was clearly established at the time. We, therefore, conclude the district court's order allowing discovery to proceed on Carmen's liberty interest claim was proper and defendants are not entitled to qualified immunity on Carmen's liberty interest claim.