Opinion ID: 3064734
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Deterrence Effect and Retaliatory Motive

Text: [16] Even assuming Plaintiffs had shown they engaged in a constitutionally protected activity, their claim would fail nonetheless because they failed to show that Bennett’s actions had a retaliatory motive. “In the First Amendment context, a plaintiff creates a genuine issue of material fact on the question of retaliatory motive when he or she produces, in addition to evidence that the defendant knew of the protected speech, at least (1) evidence of proximity in time between the protected speech and the allegedly retaliatory decision, (2) evidence that the defendant expressed opposition to the speech or (3) evidence that the defendant’s proffered reason for the adverse action was false or pretextual.” Pinard, 467 F.3d at 771 (emphasis added). [17] Plaintiffs have not produced evidence of any of the three factors. Plaintiffs’ reliance on Sloman v. Tadlock, 21 6476 CORALES v. BENNETT F.3d 1462 (9th Cir. 1994), is misplaced. There, plaintiffs were able to demonstrate that the disciplining officer both disagreed with their message and that his claimed reasons for citing and warning plaintiffs were groundless. Id. at 1469-1470. In contrast, Plaintiffs here have only produced evidence that Bennett may have known that the students skipped school to participate in the protest, but not that he was opposed to that protest. Bennett imposed discipline two days after the expressive conduct occurred and not in the heat of the moment. Compare Morse, 127 S. Ct. at 2622 (principal immediately reacted to student display of banner at Olympic torch relay, demanding that the banner be taken down and issuing 10-day suspension the same day). Furthermore, Plaintiffs’ evidence showing that Bennett generally treated students harshly undermines any argument that his reason for disciplining the students was pretextual. Plaintiffs have shown no difference in Bennett’s treatment of them than any other student he disciplined. “Such conclusory allegations, standing alone, are insufficient to prevent summary judgment.” Sloman, 21 F.3d at 1474. Accordingly, we conclude that the Plaintiffs have failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to their First Amendment claim.