Fox v. Vice, No. 10-114; U.S. Supreme Court; opinion by Kagan, J.; decided June 6, 2011. On certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Claiming that he was subjected to dirty tricks during his successful campaign to become the police chief of Vinton, La., petitioner Fox filed a state-court suit against Vice, the incumbent chief, and the town (Vice, for short). Fox’s suit asserted both state-law claims, including defamation, and federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, including interference with Fox’s right to seek public office. Vice removed the case to federal court based on the § 1983 claims. After discovery, he sought summary judgment on the federal claims,which Fox conceded were not valid.
