Eklund

Eklund v. City of Seattle Municipal Court

Good Law
628 F.3d 473·2010 WL 4751574
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitNovember 24, 201009-35652, 09-35676California4,326 words

Opinion

lead Opinion

Noonan, J.

Opinion by Judge NOONAN; Concurrence by Judge CANBY.

OPINION

Bruce E. Eklund (Eklund) brought this suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Seattle Municipal Court (the Municipal Court), the chief judge of the court, Fred Bonner (Bonner), and others. Eklund alleged wrongful termination of his employment by the Municipal Court and denial of due process of law in his termination. A jury returned a verdict for the defendants on the wrongful termination claim and for Eklund on the due process claim. Bonner and Eklund each appeal.

Holding that Bonner was entitled to qualified immunity, we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand for entry of judgment in favor of Bonner.

Other issues of Washington law involving the other defendants are addressed in a memorandum disposition filed contemporaneously with this opinion.

FACTS

Eklund attended Central Washington University. At age 19, he began working for the state legislature. In 2001, at the age of 23, he was hired as an administrative staff assistant in the Municipal Court at an annual salary of about $13,000. He was eventually promoted to the position of Strategic Advisor at a salary of $49,000. At all times of…

concurrence Opinion

Canby, J.

I agree with the analysis set forth in Judge Noonan’s opinion, and I concur in the judgment.

Opinion

Before: WILLIAM C. CANBY, JR., JOHN T. NOONAN and MARSHA S. BERZON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge NOONAN; Concurrence by Judge CANBY.

NOONAN, Circuit Judge:

Bruce E. Eklund (Eklund) brought this suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Seattle Municipal Court (the Municipal Court), the chief judge of the court, Fred Bonner (Bonner), and others. Eklund alleged wrongful termination of his employment by the Municipal Court and denial of due process of law in his termination. A jury returned a verdict for the defendants on the wrongful termination claim and for Eklund on the due process claim. Bonner and Eklund each appeal.

Holding that Bonner was entitled to qualified immunity, we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand for entry of judgment in favor of Bonner.

Other issues of Washington law involving the other defendants are addressed in a memorandum disposition filed contemporaneously with this opinion.

Eklund attended Central Washington University. At age 19, he began working for the state legislature. In 2001, at the age of 23, he was hired as an administrative staff assistant in the Municipal Court at an annual salary of about $13,000. He was…

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