Ads 468x60px

Visit Julie's other blog Municipal Minute

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Police Officer Put On Leave for Social Media Comments

A City of Elgin, Illinois police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave for allegedly making objectionable comments on social media relating to Michael Brown, the Ferguson MO teen shot to death by a police officer last month.  According to news reports, he posted the following on Facebook: 
Hmmm … innocent victim my (expletive). Did society a favor.
It is not clear whether the officer's statement violated a City or police department social media policy; news reports reference statements by City officials that the officer's actions were “inconsistent with departmental standards.” 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Nursing Home Sued for Imposing a Visitation Ban for Social Media Posts

Children of a nursing home patient recently filed a lawsuit against their mother's nursing home for banning them from the facility for their social media posts. The lawsuit claims that the nursing home sent a letter to the children offering to restore their visiting privileges if they “agree to immediately remove all pictures, videos, blogs, comments, articles, postings or other invasive and/or exploitive content depicting or relating to Ruby Peterson and/or any other resident of Silverado Senior Living – Sugar Land immediately.”  The letter also required the children and their attorney to “further agree to refrain from creating any additional pictures, video, blogs, comments, articles, postings or any other exploitive content depicting or relating to Ruby Peterson and/or any other resident of Silverado Senior Living – Sugar Land, assisting or encouraging others to post such content and providing others such content until the conclusion of all legal issues between the parties by settlement agreement, judgment or otherwise” in a separate case where the children are fighting to remove their mother from the facility.

The lawsuit claims that the revocation of their visitation rights was an unconstitutional retaliation in violation of their First Amendment rights and the ADA.  The children ask the court to award them compensatory damages up to $500,000 for "severe mental and emotional distress and anxiety and bodily pain and suffering" and punitive damages.
 

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.