Ads 468x60px

Visit Julie's other blog Municipal Minute

Monday, May 19, 2014

MAUIWatch Facebook Case Settles

We have reported previously on the lawsuit filed against the County of Maui by a County employee who maintains a MAUIWatch Facebook page where he posts news and other stories about Maui.  Mamuad v. County of Hawaii, Dist. (Haw. Mar. 3, 2014).  According to his lawsuit, the County told him to shut it down and when he didn't, he was subject to disciplinary action.  He was also the subject of a harassment complaint by a co-worker who claimed his Facebook activities amounted to cyber-bullying.  

This month, the parties agreed to settle the case before the court could hear initial arguments on the motion for a preliminary injunction.  The settlement requires the County to rewrite its anti-harassment policy to clarify that employees have First Amendment rights outside the workplace.  The County was required to expunge any record of disciplinary action against Mamuad, and pay his attorneys fees and damages in the amount of $25,000.  

No comments:

Post a Comment

 

Disclaimer

Blog comments do not reflect the views or opinions of the Author or Ancel Glink. Some of the content of this blog may be considered attorney advertising material under the applicable rules of certain states. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Please read our full disclaimer.