X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Joy Beattie, an at-will employee, was fired as a secretary for Madison County Schools, allegedly in retaliation for her support of Michael Kent’s candidacy for school superintendent in opposition to the incumbent, Maria Jones. Beattie sued the school district, the superintendent, the principal, and the school board members for First Amendment retaliation under 42 U.S.C. � 1983 and for violation of Miss. Code Ann. � 23-15-871, which prohibits certain actions by employers regarding employee’s voting rights. Beattie asked for a permanent injunction, reinstatement, punitive damages, and compensatory damages for lost past and future wages, mental anguish, emotional stress, and loss of reputation. The district court dismissed the state law claim without prejudice and granted summary judgment for the defendants on the � 1983 claim on the basis that Beattie had failed to establish a causal connection between her political activity and her discharge, an essential element of her � 1983 claim.*fn1

Beattie appeals, contending that the district court erred in concluding that she failed to prove causation and erred in denying her motion to conduct additional discovery under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(f). We affirm.

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
September 18, 2024 - September 19, 2024
Dallas, TX

Join General Counsel and Senior Legal Leaders at the Premier Forum Designed For and by General Counsel from Fortune 1000 Companies


Learn More
September 24, 2024
Chicago, IL

Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards honors women lawyers who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.


Learn More
September 23, 2024 - September 25, 2024
Chicago, IL

WIPL is the original global forum facilitating women-to-women exchange on leadership and legal issues.


Learn More

A prominent AV-rated Education Law firm seeks an associate with 5+ years experience. The role will primarily involve advice and counsel in ...


Apply Now ›

Associate attorney position at NJ Immigration Law firm: Leschak & Associates, LLC, based in Freehold, NJ, is looking for a full time ass...


Apply Now ›

Javerbaum Wurgaft, a large civil litigation firm with nine (9) offices, seeks: Plaintiff Personal Injury Attorney for Northern New Jersey of...


Apply Now ›