Note: This case provides a comprehensive review of the laws governing employees’ Freedom of Speech and the heavy burden these police officers
faced when using Freedom of Speech protections to cover up their disloyal actions against their Chief of Police.

File Name: 04a0133n.06 Filed: November 29, 2004 No. 03-3915 U.S.C.A. 6TH CIRCUIT

Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CITY OF MENTOR, RICHARD A. AMIOTT, JULIAN M. SUSO, EDWARD WALSH, and RICHARD HENNING, Defendants-Appellees. Plaintiffs Steven Graham, Daniel Grein, and Timothy Baker appeal the grant of summary judgment in favor of the City of Mentor (“Mentor”), its police chief, its city manager, and one current and one former city council president on plaintiffs’ claim, brought according to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, for violation of their rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The plaintiffs argue that: 1) they were discharged in retaliation for exercising their First Amendment rights; 2) the Mentor police rules are an unconstitutional prior restraint on speech, and 3) the police chief and city manager conspired to deprive the plaintiffs of their civil rights.