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Callahan v. Fermon

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ARGUED JANUARY 10, 2008

Before EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge, and RIPPLE and ROVNER, Circuit Judges.

Michale Callahan, a former lieutenant with the Illinois State Police, was transferred after making statements at a meeting about a cold case and after making official complaints about his superior officers. In bringing this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against several of his superiors, he claims that he was transferred in retaliation for speech that is protected by the First Amendment. The jury found that two of the defendants, Diane Carper and Steven Fermon, had retaliated against him on the basis of his protected speech and awarded him compensatory and punitive damages. The defendants appealed. While this appeal was pending, the Supreme Court decided Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006), which held that the First Amendment does not protect a public employee’s statements made as part of his official duties. In light of Garcetti, we hold that the First Amendment does not insulate Mr. Callahan’s statements from employer discipline. Accordingly, the judgment in his favor is reversed, and the case is remanded with instructions to enter judgment for the defendants.

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