GERALD SENSABAUGH, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. KIMBER HALLIBURTON, Individually and in her official capacity as Director of Schools; WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, Defendants-Appellees., 937 F.3d 621

Summary

HOLDINGS: [1]-The former football coach had not shown that the school director violated his constitutional rights, and the director was entitled to qualified immunity from the First Amendment retaliation claim because, when deciding to terminate the coach's employment, the director relied on, among other things, the independent investigation, which went unrebutted by the coach, and the advice of the board of education's attorney. There was no indication that the coach's social media posts played any part in the final decision, and the director repeatedly affirmed the coach's right to post them; [2]-Because the school director did not violate the coach's First Amendment rights, the municipal liability claim also failed.