First Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Summary Judgment Decision Against the Cotuit Fire District and its Chief

On January 28, 2014, the First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a Summary Judgment decision on a former Fire Captain’s claims for political discrimination under 42 U.S.C., § 1983, retaliation under the Massachusetts Whistleblower Statute, M.G.L. c. 149, § 185 et seq. and tortious interference with advantageous relations.  The Court ruled the Defendants presented legitimate; business-related grounds for the Plaintiff’s termination, i.e. his violation of state ethics laws, and that Plaintiff had failed to demonstrate that the Defendants’ stated reasons for termination were pretextual.  David Pierce v. Cotuit Fire District, et al