Published on: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
In 2013, a woman complains on social media about a Spotsylvania County, Va. sheriff Marcia Curtis who cited her for a parking violation. In 2019, the woman is pulled over by a different officer, deputy Jaime Riley (for passing a school bus as kids were boarding). The first officer (Curtis) calls the second officer (Riley) during the stop and offered to buy him lunch if he gave the woman a ticket, which he did. Woman: sues for unlawful retaliation for her protected speech. Jury: We think not. Sheriff Curtis wins. Fourth Circuit: No need to disturb the verdict.
The case is Snoeyenbos v. Curtis, No. 21-1779 (4th Cir. Feb. 21, 2023).