Williams v. City of Burns

The chief of police for the City of Burns had Plaintiff, a police officer, “fix” a traffic ticket for a relative. When Plaintiff complained to the mayor that the police chief had pressured him into illegal ticket fixing, Plaintiff was discharged. Plaintiff filed this lawsuit against the City of Burns, asserting a claim of retaliatory discharge pursuant to the Tennessee Public Protection Act (TPPA). The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the City. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the City’s assertion that it discharged Plaintiff because he violated the chain of command by reporting the ticket fixing to the mayor amounted to an admission that it retaliated against Plaintiff for refusing to remain silent about illegal activities, conduct that is protected under the TPPA; (2) the second reason proffered by the City for Plaintiff’s discharge, that he undermined the police chief’s authority with the other officers in the police department, is pretext for retaliation; and (3) thus, Plaintiff was discharged solely in retaliation for conduct protected under the TPPA. View "Williams v. City of Burns" on Justia Law