Document: 429 U.S. 274 97 S.Ct. 568 50 L.Ed.2d 471 MT. HEALTHY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION, Petitioner,v.Fred DOYLE. No. 75-1278. Argued Nov. 3, 1976. Decided Jan. 11, 1977. Syllabus Respondent, an untenured teacher (who had previously been involved in altercation with another teacher, argument school cafeteria employees, incident which he swore at students, and made obscene gestures to girl students), conveyed through a telephone call radio station the substance of memorandum relating dress appearance that principal circulated various teachers. The announced adoption code as news item. Thereafter, petitioner School Board, adopting recommendation superintendent, advised respondent would not be rehired cited his lack tact handling professional matters, specific mention obscene-gesture incidents. Respondent then brought this action against for reinstatement damages, claiming petitioner's refusal rehire him violated rights under First Fourteenth Amendments. Although asserted jurisdiction both 28 U.S.C. § 1343 1331, District Court rested only on 1331. Court, found incidents involving occurred, concluded was "clearly protected by Amendment" because it played "substantial part" decision entitled backpay. Appeals affirmed. Petitioner, addition attacking Court's 1331 ground $10,000 jurisdictional requirement provision satisfied case, raised additional issue after granted certiorari filed its reply brief, respondent's substantive constitutional claim arises 42 1983 Board is "person" purposes 1983, liability may no more imposed where federal rests than grounded 1343. Held: 1. Respondent's complaint sufficiently pleaded Though amount controversy thereunder must exceed $10,000, even if chosen award compensatory far from "legal certainty" time suit have amount. St. Paul Indemnity Co. v. Red Cab Co., 303 283, 288-289, 58 586, 590, 82 L.Ed. 845. Pp. 276-277. 2. Petitioner making belated contention concerning failed preserve whether stated upon relief could it. Because question sort raises own motion, assumed without deciding sue regard limitations 1983. 277-279. 3. Since Ohio law "State" does include "political subdivisions" (a category including districts), record shows local board like county or city arm State, immune Eleventh Amendment. 279-281. 4. claims are defeated did tenure. Perry Sindermann, 408 593, 92 2694, 33 570. P. 283-284. 5. That conduct Amendments substantial part necessarily violation justifying remedial action. proper test one protects invasion commanding undesirable consequences necessary assurance those rights. here burden showing constitutionally motivating factor him, should gone determine shown preponderance evidence reached same absence conduct. 284-287. 529 F.2d 524, vacated remanded. Philip S. Olinger, petitioner. Michael H. Gottesman, Washington, D. C., respondent. Mr. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 Doyle sued Mt. Healthy Education United States Southern Ohio. claimed Board's renew contract 1971 Constitution. After bench trial held Sixth Circuit affirmed judgment, we petition certiorari, 425 933, 96 1662, 48 174, consider admixture claims. 2 * (1) Petitioner's first contention, little difficulty disposing of, asserts required section case. 3 leading case point 845 (1938), test: 4 "(T)he sum plaintiff controls apparently good faith. It appear legal certainty really less justify dismissal. inability recover adequate give court show bad faith oust jurisdiction." Id., S.Ct., 590. (Footnotes omitted.) 5 We rule approval recently Weinberger Wiesenfeld, 420 636, 642 n. 10, 95 1225, 1230, 43 514 (1975), think requires disposition tendered favor At $50,000 already accepted job different system paying approximately $2,000 per year earned rehired. fact awarded damages $5,158 reason income lost ordered reinstatement. Even reinstatement, $10,000. II 6 has document "Supplemental Authorities" quite "jurisdictional" presented disposed preceding opinion. Relying Weathers West Yuma County Dist., 387 F.Supp. 552, 556 (Colo.1974), contends though met subjected Doyle's reasons, such 7 avoided reciting "stated any conclusion possible Monroe-Kenosha problem since seems properly well one." Pet. Cert. 14a-15a. This reference our decisions Monroe Pape, 365 167, 81 473, 492 (1961), City Kenosha Bruno, 412 507, 93 2222, 37 109 (1973), municipal corporation suable corporations cases so it, too, excluded liability. 8 quoted statement makes clear view basis contained do apply. argues, contrary, Congress expressly created remedy violations color state law, who seeks bound whatever invokes. 9 arguments prevail, urged oral argument, should, analogy Bivens Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 388, 91 1999, 29 619 (1971), imply cause directly Amendment subject never decided Counsel suggested extremely important record. agree 10 (2) brief Were truth lacked jurisdiction, obliged inquire sua sponte whenever doubt existence jurisdiction. Liberty Mutual Ins. Wetzel, 424 737, 740, 1202, 1204, 47 435 (1976); Louisville & Nashville R. Mottley, 211 149, 152, 42, 43, 53 126 (1908). And were action, special controversy, appropriate inquire, statutory alleged. supra. However, catchall federal-question requiring excess established allegation Constitution statutes, unless appears immaterial solely purpose obtaining . ." Bell Hood, 327 678, 682, 66 773, 776, 90 939 (1946); Montana-Dakota Utilities Northwestern Pub. Serv. 341 246, 249, 71 692, 694, 912 (1951). 11 (3) Here alleged jurisdictionally damages. assuming correctness limited restrictions patently merit fail Therefore, motion. related district person likewise before us. leave questions day, assume, deciding, III 12 unnecessary decide immunity courts Amendment, waived statute decisional law. In treatment waiver State Ford Motor Dept. Treasury, 323 459, 464-466, 65 347, 350-351, 89 389 (1945), sure consented entities courts. prefer address instead entity place, conclude none will reach waiver. 13 (4, 5) bar extends officials circumstances, Edelman Jordan, 415 651, 94 1347, 39 662 (1974); supra, but extend counties similar corporations. See Lincoln Luning, 133 529, 530, 363, 766 (1890); Moor Alameda, 411 693, 717-721, 1785, 1799-1801, 36 596 (1973). thus turns treated partaking State's immunity, other political subdivision extend. answer depends, least part, nature Under subdivisions," districts. Rev.Code Ann. 2743.01 (Page Supp.1975). many boards within some guidance Education, 3301.07 1972 Supp.1975), receives significant money State. 3317 But extensive powers bonds, 133.27 1969), levy taxes certain §§ 5705.02, 5705.03, 5705.192, 5705.194 1973 On balance, us indicates therefore hold assert IV 14 Having now proceed merits 15 employed 1966. He worked one-year contracts three years, two-year 1969 1971. elected president Teachers' Association, position expand subjects direct negotiation between Association Education. During term during succeeding when served executive committee, there tension relations Association. 16 Beginning early 1970, several connected role instance, engaged culminated teacher's slapping him. subsequently refused accept apology insisted punishment teacher. His persistence matter resulted suspension teachers followed walkout number teachers, turn lifting suspensions. 17 occasions, got into employees over spaghetti him; referred connection disciplinary complaint, "sons bitches"; gesture two girls their failure obey commands capacity supervisor. Chronologically last series employment station. consideration below 18 February 1971, appearance, prompted administration relationship public support bond issues. response receipt understood settled joint teacher-administration convey disc jockey WSAI, Cincinnati station, promptly apologized principal, conceding prior communication criticism administration. 19 Approximately month later superintendent customary annual recommendations rehiring nontenured recommended respect nine district, all instances, Doyle's, adopted Board. Shortly being notified decision, requested reasons actions. received citing "a notable matters leaves much your sincerity establishing relationships." general references incident.1 20 these occurred. Amendment," employment, App. 12a-13a. what applying determining simply curiam 524. 21 (6) discharged whatever, right hearing Regents Roth, 564, 2701, 548 (1972), nonetheless establish exercise freedoms. 570 (1972). 22 speech government employee expression entails striking balance interests citizen, commenting concern interest employer, promoting efficiency services performs employees." Pickering 391 563, 568, 88 1731, 1734, 811 (1968). There suggestion policy, reaction anything ad hoc public. finding not, however, entirely agreement court's manner reasoning 23 following "conclusions" aspect case: 24 "1) If non-permissible reason, e. g., rights, face permissible grounds stand (citations omitted). 25 "2) A play part. letter Superintendent immediately one, conversation clearly engage limitation based 'tact' say 'tactfulness' irrelevant issues case." time, though, 26 "(i)n fact, sees finds, faced situation exist independent thereof, tenure." 12a. 27 (7) tenure, state-law "cause" "reason" meant latter statement. Clearly legally dismissed come attention. One plausible meaning could, whether, actual not. causation focuses "substantial" otherwise, rehire, place better result occupied done nothing. enunciated require dramatic perhaps abrasive inevitably minds responsible indeed principle stake vindicated placed worse borderline marginal candidate resolved ought able, engaging conduct, prevent employer assessing performance reaching record, decision. especially true where, observed here, current accord "tenure." long-term tenure great moment employer. They too precluded, considered Doyle, attempting prove trier apart event. 30 areas formulate distinguishes caused caused. instructive formulating applied here. 31 Lyons Oklahoma, 322 596, 64 1208, 1481 (1944), confession given defendant involuntary, using second obtained hours coercion surrounding dissipated make voluntary. Wong Sun States, 371 471, 491, 83 407, 419, 441 (1963), willing assume defendant's arrest unlawful "the (given days later) 'become attenuated dissipate taint.' Nardone 308 338, 341, 60 266, 84 307." Parker North Carolina, 397 790, 796, 1458, 785 (1970), involuntary sense word, guilty plea entered voluntariness plea. relied language Nardone, Sun, While type taint differ somewhat apply suggest present context 32 Initially, protected, factor" put words, "motivating factor"2 having carried burden, reemployment cannot tell conclusions, nor affirming judgment they test. vacated, remanded further proceedings consistent 34 So ordered. "I. You relationships. "A. responsibility notify W.S.A.I. Radio Station regards people. community, also neighboring communities. "B. used correct students causing considerable among present. "Sincerely yours, "Rex Ralph "Superintendent" Village Arlington Heights Metropolitan Housing Development Corp., U.S., 270-271, 21, 566.

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