Spittal

Spittal v. Houseman

Good Law
224 F. App'x 725
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMarch 16, 2007No. 06-15991California228 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

George Spittal appeals pro se from the district court’s order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging school district officials retaliated against him, in violation of the First Amendment, when they removed him from his substitute teaching assignment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo the district court’s judgment, Sosa v. DIRECTV, Inc., 437 F.3d 923, 927 (9th Cir.2006), and we affirm.

The district court correctly dismissed this action because the speech Spittal alleges caused defendants to retaliate against him was not constitutionally protected. See Weeks v. Bayer, 246 F.3d 1231, 1234-35 (9th Cir,2001) (noting that content, form, and context of speech determine whether it relates to a matter of public concern).

Moreover, Spittal did not allege that members of the Board of Trustees of the Sacramento City Unified School District knew of the alleged retaliation before it happened. See Hydrick v. Hunter, 466 F.3d 676, 689 (9th Cir.2006) (“[TJhere is no pure respondeat superior liability under § 1983....”).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Spittal’s post-judgment motion. See McQuillion v. Duncan,…

Sign in to read the full opinion

Create a free account to read the complete opinion text, citation history, and good-law status for this case.