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Kimberly K. Benedix v. Village of Hanover Park, Illinois, et al

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ARGUED SEPTEMBER 19, 2011–

Before EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge, and KANNE and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.

The Village of Hanover Park fired Marc Hummel from his position as Village Manager. That is the sort of job for which politics is a legitimate qualification (or disqualification). See Branti v. Finkel, 445 U.S. 507 (1980). At the same time as they ousted Hummel, the Village President and Board of Trustees restructured the work force. An ordinance abolished three positions and created one new slot. Kimberly Benedix had occupied one of the three abolished posi- tions: Executive Coordinator to the Village Manager. She filed this suit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, contending that the Village, the President, and three of the Trustees violated the first amendment (applied to the states by the fourteenth) by holding her associations against her. Benedix contends that she was canned because she was associated with (and a friend of) Hummel, who had lost a political struggle, after which the defendants decided to clean out Hummel’s office.

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