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A federal jury has ruled in favor of a former fire captain in a First Amendment lawsuit, awarding him $1.7 million in damages. The verdict comes approximately a year after the Nashville Metro Council rejected a proposed $105,000 settlement, opting instead to litigate the matter.
According to legal filings, former fire captain Tracy Turner was demoted in 2020 following social media posts in which he referred to individuals protesting police brutality and the killing of George Floyd as “the stupidest people on the planet” and characterized Black Lives Matter supporters as “thugs.” Turner subsequently filed suit, asserting that his demotion constituted unlawful retaliation for his political speech as a private citizen.
The court determined “as a matter of law” that Turner’s comments were protected under the First Amendment. His attorney, Larry Crain, described the ruling as a significant victory for public employees’ speech rights, stating, “We should never tolerate government retaliation against an employee for speaking out on a matter of inherent public concern.”
The Metro Council previously voted unanimously against settling the lawsuit, citing the need to establish clearer guidelines regarding public employees’ use of social media, maintain public trust, and uphold standards of conduct for government personnel. Legal counsel for the city had warned that further litigation carried inherent risks, particularly in the appellate courts.
It remains unclear whether the city will appeal the jury’s decision or seek alternative legal remedies. The case underscores ongoing legal debates over the boundaries of free speech protections for government employees and the implications of social media use in the public sector.
