Opinion ID: 159486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: 1 Stuart R. Vanderhurst, a former professor at Colorado Mountain College Junior College District (the College), sued the College for terminating his employment on the basis of allegedly inappropriate classroom conduct and comments. Vanderhurst claimed, inter alia, that the College violated his First Amendment right to free speech and breached his employment contract and he sought relief respectively under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and state common law. At the close of Vanderhurst's case-in-chief and again at the close of all the evidence, the College unsuccessfully moved for judgment as a matter of law on both the First Amendment and contract claims. The jury eventually returned a verdict in favor of Vanderhurst on both claims. The College now appeals from the district court's denial of its Rule 50 motions on the two claims. This court exercises jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1291. 2 The College's appeal on the First Amendment claim presents the following issues: (1) whether the speech for which Vanderhurst was terminated garnered constitutional protection; (2) whether the district court erred by submitting to the jury the question whether the termination reasonably related to the College's legitimate pedagogical concerns; and (3) whether the district court should have answered that question in favor of the College. Because the College failed to adequately raise these issues before the district court, it has waived appellate review of its arguments. This court thus affirms the judgment on the First Amendment claim. On the contract claim, the College contends the terms of Vanderhurst's employment contract and its Policy Manual preclude his ability to prosecute that claim in court. In light of our resolution of the First Amendment claim and the structure of the district court judgment, this court need not address the merits of that argument. We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court.