Hope Allen, the former secretary to the Mayor of Calumet City, filed suit in 2012 against the City, the Mayor, the Purchasing and Personnel Director and the Aldermen alleging, among other things, retaliation, violation of free speech, interference and failure to hire, all of which were motivated by her protected political speech. There was also a defamation claim. Luke Casson was Ms. Allen’s attorney. Today, the Court found there was no private cause of action for the damages claimed by Allen; (2) her complaint did not state a legally recognizable claim since there is no claim for retaliatory failure to hire or renew employment in Illinois; and (3) defendants were entitled to immunity on the defamation claim. The Court dismissed all remaining counts of the eleven originally filed and granted the City’s motion for summary judgment.
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