Artis v. Santos

Record contains sufficient evidence to support jury’s verdict in favor of defendant-employer in plaintiff’s section 1983 action, alleging that plaintiff violated his First Amendment rights by terminating him from his city clerk position in retaliation for refusing to politically support two individuals associated with his supervisor. During trial, supervisor testified that plaintiff was terminated because he was convicted felon, and said status prevented him from satisfying bonding requirements that applied to all city employees. Dist. Ct. did not abuse its discretion in allowing defendant’s expert to testify regarding insurance risk in allowing plaintiff to remain in workforce, as expert had sufficient background to make such opinion. Ct. of Appeals also rejected plaintiff’s contention, that instruction that told jury to evaluate whether defendant held belief that plaintiff’s refusal to campaign for two individuals was a reason that plaintiff was terminated, was not accurate statement of law.