A tourism PR director who says he was fired for sending e-mails to various state officials cannot sue those officials for his termination, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said yesterday in ruling on the director’s civil rights suit.
Public relations director L. Meriwether German worked for the Shenandoah Valley Travel Association, a private non-profit that promotes tourism in the Valley. When members of the association complained to German about the temporary relocation of an Interstate 81 welcome center, German fired off a series of e-mails with the SVTA signature block to a Virginia state senator, a VDOT employee and to Alisa Bailey, president of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, a state agency.
In his suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, German alleged that state employee Bailey, who was unhappy with the e-mails, coerced private actors into firing him. She allegedly told German’s boss to get him to “back off.”
Private action sometimes can be attributed to the state, the 4th Circuit said in its unpublished per curiam opinion in German v. Fox. But even when a private entity is heavily regulated by or receives funding from the state, that relationship doesn’t necessarily translate into state action.
German could not show that Bailey, despite her alleged close connection with his superiors, ordered that German be fired, or that she wanted or expected him to be fired, the 4th Circuit said. It upheld U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad’s dismissal of the suit.
Showing posts with label Civil Rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Civil Rights. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2008
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Oliver Hill dies at 100
Retired Richmond civil rights lawyer Oliver W. Hill Sr. died this morning at the age of 100, reports The Associated Press.
Mr. Hill was one of the lawyers in the 1954 landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education. He and his colleague Spotswood W. Robinson represented black students from Prince Edward County. Mr. Hill's law school classmate, Thurgood Marshall, was lead counsel when the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a statement, "As a pioneer for civil rights, an accomplished attorney, and a war veteran, Mr. Hill’s dedication to serving the Commonwealth and the country never failed. And, despite all of the accolades and honors he received, Mr. Hill always believed his true legacy was working to challenge the conscience of our Commonwealth and our country."
Monday morning update:
The news of Mr. Hill's passing prompted a number of stories in the Aug. 6 editions of several newspapers. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a career retrospective, as does the Washington Post.
Mr. Hill grew up in the Star City, and the Roanoke Times offers this article. The Associated Press has a piece containing reaction and tributes from a number of Virginia's elected officials.
Not included in the AP item is a statement from the judges of the Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, who work in the Oliver Hill Courts Building in downtown Richmond.
Chief Judge Kimberly B. O’Donnell noted, “Oliver Hill inspired many people in our nation by his extraordinary advocacy for equal justice under the law. His entire career was focused upon improving the lives of ordinary people and their families. He greatly honored this Court by allowing it to bear his name.”
Mr. Hill was one of the lawyers in the 1954 landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education. He and his colleague Spotswood W. Robinson represented black students from Prince Edward County. Mr. Hill's law school classmate, Thurgood Marshall, was lead counsel when the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a statement, "As a pioneer for civil rights, an accomplished attorney, and a war veteran, Mr. Hill’s dedication to serving the Commonwealth and the country never failed. And, despite all of the accolades and honors he received, Mr. Hill always believed his true legacy was working to challenge the conscience of our Commonwealth and our country."
Monday morning update:
The news of Mr. Hill's passing prompted a number of stories in the Aug. 6 editions of several newspapers. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a career retrospective, as does the Washington Post.
Mr. Hill grew up in the Star City, and the Roanoke Times offers this article. The Associated Press has a piece containing reaction and tributes from a number of Virginia's elected officials.
Not included in the AP item is a statement from the judges of the Richmond Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, who work in the Oliver Hill Courts Building in downtown Richmond.
Chief Judge Kimberly B. O’Donnell noted, “Oliver Hill inspired many people in our nation by his extraordinary advocacy for equal justice under the law. His entire career was focused upon improving the lives of ordinary people and their families. He greatly honored this Court by allowing it to bear his name.”
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