Opinion ID: 163283
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Major Hanson’s articles

Text: Major Hanson identifies two instances of speech which he contends are matters of public concern: (1) an article (or articles) that he wrote in the Dispatch regarding Chief Marrs’ alleged anti-union animus, in which he claims to -10- have “spoke[n] out against Marrs and other supervisory personnel of the Fire Department regarding the illegal conduct of refusing to promote firefighters because of their union activity,” Aplts’ Opening Br. at 12; and (2) articles that he wrote in the Bugle and the Dispatch criticizing Chief Marrs and the City “for administrative decisions regarding budget cuts, reorganizations, and negotiations over the Collective Bargaining Agreement.” Id. at 13. In his deposition Major Hanson testified that he suffered two adverse actions as a result of the writings: (1) a one-shift transfer from Station 8 to Station 22 in 1993, and (2) the denial of a promotion to Chief Training Officer at some unspecified time in 1994. The record contains a copy of the Dispatch (dated September 1994) discussing contentious CBA negotiations, and a copy of the Bugle (dated March 1996) discussing proposed budget cuts and a contemplated reorganization of the Department. The record does not, however, contain a copy of the Dispatch issue in which he allegedly criticized Chief Marrs for refusing to promote union leaders. Nor is there any evidence in the record regarding the date of the issue. To establish causation in a freedom-of-speech case, a plaintiff must—at a minimum—present evidence that his protected speech preceded the adverse actions alleged. Plaintiffs have failed to meet that minimal burden. First, it is clear that the 1996 Bugle article could not have motivated either of the adverse actions cited by Major Hanson, since the article was written after both the 1993 -11- transfer and the 1994 non-promotion occurred. Similarly, because Plaintiffs have failed to come forward with evidence regarding the date of the Dispatch article in which Major Hanson purportedly criticized Chief Marrs for refusing to promote union leaders, we cannot determine whether that article predated either of the adverse actions alleged. Finally, while it is possible that the September 1994 Dispatch article preceded Major Hanson’s 1994 non-promotion, Plaintiffs do not specify in which month that non-promotion occurred, and we are left to speculate whether the article preceded his failure to be promoted. This is insufficient evidence to overcome a motion for summary judgment. In summary, the district court properly granted summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ free speech claims.