Federal lawsuit challenging a “gag order” issued by a Coventry fire district chief against two firefighters after they publicly expressed fire-department related concerns about school safety. The defendants agreed to rescind the challenged policies in 2004. Attorneys fees were awarded after a contempt motion was filed against defendants in 2005 for failing to abide by the agreement.
Dec 22, 2005
Contempt Motion Filed Against Anthony Fire District Chief
ACLU volunteer attorney John Dineen has asked a federal judge to hold Anthony Fire District Chief Walter Mruk in contempt of court – and personally fine him – for failing to abide by a consent agreement he entered into more than a year ago in an ACLU free speech case. The underlying suit had challenged a “gag order” issued by Mruk, barring two firefighters from publicly expressing fire-department related concerns without first getting his approval.
Jul 09, 2004
ACLU, Alleging Free Speech Violations, Sues Coventry Fire District for Third Time
The ACLU of Rhode Island has today filed a federal lawsuit against Coventry Fire District Chief Stanley Mruk and District Auditor Conrad Burns, for violating the free speech rights of four Coventry firefighters at the District’s December 2003 annual financial meeting. This is the third time in two years that the ACLU has sued Mruk. The latest suit, filed by ACLU volunteer attorney Gary Berkowitz, is on behalf of Robert Carlow, James Perry, William Perry, and David Gorman.
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Dec 22, 2005
Contempt Motion Filed Against Anthony Fire District Chief
ACLU volunteer attorney John Dineen has asked a federal judge to hold Anthony Fire District Chief Walter Mruk in contempt of court – and personally fine him – for failing to abide by a consent agreement he entered into more than a year ago in an ACLU free speech case. The underlying suit had challenged a “gag order” issued by Mruk, barring two firefighters from publicly expressing fire-department related concerns without first getting his approval.
Jul 09, 2004
ACLU, Alleging Free Speech Violations, Sues Coventry Fire District for Third Time
The ACLU of Rhode Island has today filed a federal lawsuit against Coventry Fire District Chief Stanley Mruk and District Auditor Conrad Burns, for violating the free speech rights of four Coventry firefighters at the District’s December 2003 annual financial meeting. This is the third time in two years that the ACLU has sued Mruk. The latest suit, filed by ACLU volunteer attorney Gary Berkowitz, is on behalf of Robert Carlow, James Perry, William Perry, and David Gorman.
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