Opinion ID: 2982856
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Case Proceedings:

Text: In June 2012, Stolle brought suit, alleging that KSU, President Lester Lefton (“Lefton”), Thornton, Kolbe and Wilson had retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech. In response to their respective motions, the district court ultimately ordered KSU, Lefton, Wilson, and Kolbe to be dismissed from the case, leaving only Thornton. In the course of its July 18, 2013 order granting Kolbe’s motion for summary judgment, the court found that the only event in which Kolbe had participated, the Meeting, did not constitute an adverse action sufficient to support a claim of First Amendment retaliation.5 In the same order, the court denied the remaining Defendants’ requests for summary judgment and made the following finding of indisputable fact: “that Defendant Thornton was required to eliminate a non-tenure-track position as a result of [] budgetary and programmatic constraints.” The court determined that the sole issue to be presented to the jury would be whether Thornton was justified in his choice to terminate Stolle as opposed to Dumpe, and whether Stolle’s protected conduct was the “but for” cause of his termination. In response to Thornton’s motion requesting clarification of the court’s findings of fact, the court issued an order affirming its finding that Thornton was “required to eliminate a nontenure track position as a result of budgetary and programmatic constraints,” pursuant to Rule 56(g). At pretrial conference, Stolle’s counsel again argued that factual issues remained regarding whether or not Thornton was obligated to eliminate a position, but the court refused to reconsider the issue. Trial began on January 8, 2014 on the sole issue of whether Thornton terminated Stolle instead of Dumpe as a means of retaliating against Stolle’s exercise of his First Amendment 5 Kolbe resigned from Kent State University and took a position with Northern Kentucky University in May 2011. 8 No. 14-3138 Stolle v. Kent State University, et al. rights. After selection of the jury, the court addressed pending motions in limine during which it abruptly reversed its prior finding of fact, declaring that Thornton could “take whatever steps he wished to address a financial shortfall in the department,” and that “it was not of necessity to not renew the plaintiff.” R. 88, PageID 1553. The court stated that Thornton’s means of addressing the deficit was “a matter for the jury to decide.” When Stolle’s counsel pointed out that the court had already ruled that “Thornton had to eliminate” a non-tenure track position, the court replied, “No, I don’t think I’ve ruled that.” R. 88, PageID 1554. In response to Defendants’ request for clarification, the court observed: “I don’t know that he was required to terminate anyone. It’s a decision that he made[,]” then noted, “it might be error for me to say, ‘Well, you can’t argue that Dr. Thornton must or had to non-renew a candidate.’” R. 88, PageID 1775, 1559. Subsequently, the court stated again: “I think it would be a clear error for me to instruct the jury that Dr. Thornton had no other choice but to eliminate a position. Because he had a choice. He made a choice. And that was within his discretion, rightly or wrongly.” R. 88, PageID 1567. In light of the court’s new position, Defendants’ counsel asked for a continuance, which the court denied. The next morning, January 9, Stolle’s counsel requested a 24-hour continuance, citing his inability to put on the presentation necessary to argue his case in light of the court’s ruling the previous day. Specifically, he cited his need for exhibits relevant to Thornton’s knowledge of other faculty’s teaching plans, KSU’s retrenchment policy, and department finances. Defendants’ counsel objected, pointing out that when they had requested a continuance the previous day, Stolle’s counsel had not done so. The court then denied the motion, because the issues had been “clearly touched on” during discovery and depositions. R. 89, PageID 1580-82. 9 No. 14-3138 Stolle v. Kent State University, et al. After a four-day trial, a unanimous jury found Stolle had failed to prove that Thornton’s decision to terminate his employment was a means of retaliating against Stolle’s exercise of his right to free speech. Stolle appealed, alleging that the court erred 1) in finding that the Meeting did not constitute an adverse action sufficient to support a claim of retaliation; 2) in initially finding that Thornton was “required” to eliminate a non-tenure track faculty position; and 3) in denying Stolle’s motion for a 24-hour continuance.