Filed: Oct. 18, 2005
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS for the Fifth Circuit October 18, 2005 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-20919 JULIE ROBICHAUX, Plaintiff-Appellant, VERSUS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, Defendant-Appellee, Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division ( 4:03-CV-3153 ) Before GARWOOD, SMITH, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Plaintiff-Appellant Julie Robichaux (“Robichaux”) appeals the distr
Summary: United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS for the Fifth Circuit October 18, 2005 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-20919 JULIE ROBICHAUX, Plaintiff-Appellant, VERSUS THE CITY OF HOUSTON, Defendant-Appellee, Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division ( 4:03-CV-3153 ) Before GARWOOD, SMITH, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Plaintiff-Appellant Julie Robichaux (“Robichaux”) appeals the distri..
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United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
for the Fifth Circuit October 18, 2005
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-20919
JULIE ROBICHAUX,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
VERSUS
THE CITY OF HOUSTON,
Defendant-Appellee,
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
( 4:03-CV-3153 )
Before GARWOOD, SMITH, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Plaintiff-Appellant Julie Robichaux (“Robichaux”) appeals the
district court’s entry of summary judgment on her 42 U.S.C. § 1983
claim in favor of Defendant-Appellee City of Houston (the “City”).
Robichaux argues the district court erred when it concluded that
her speech was not protected by the First Amendment because the
speech: (1) did not involve a matter of public concern; and (2) did
not motivate the City’s refusal to accept the withdrawal of her
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
resignation. We AFFIRM.
Robichaux worked in the Parks and Recreation Department (the
“Department”) of the City as an Assistant Youth Sports Manager for
the First Tee junior golf program. She twice complained to
Department supervisors that a co-worker and also one of her
immediate supervisors had brought a gun to work. Both individuals
were suspended. During their suspensions, Robichaux learned that
one of the individuals might return to the golf program after
suspension. Upon learning this, Robichaux immediately resigned.
Days later, Robichaux changed her mind and attempted to withdraw
her resignation. The City exercised its discretion to deny her
attempt to withdraw the resignation.
Robichaux initially brought suit in Texas state court,
alleging violations of the Texas Public Whistleblower Act, TEX.
GOV’T CODE ANN. § 554.001-.010. She amended her petition to allege
a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The City removed the lawsuit to
federal court. Robichaux moved to remand the state retaliation
claim, and the district court granted the motion. The City then
filed a motion for summary judgment. The court granted the City’s
motion, concluding Robichaux’s speech was not protected because it
did not relate to a matter of public concern. The district court
also concluded that, even if the speech were protected, Robichaux
had not raised a genuine factual dispute as to whether her speech
motivated the City’s refusal to allow her to withdraw her
resignation. This timely appeal followed. “We review a district
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court’s grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same
standards as the district court.” Priester v. Lowndes County,
354
F.3d 414, 419 (5th Cir. 2004).
Robichaux argues that the district court erred when it held
that her complaints were not protected speech. She asserts that
they were protected because they pertained to safety, a matter of
public concern. Further, she contends that the district court
erred when it held that her complaints did not motivate the City’s
refusal to accept the withdrawal of her resignation.
After a thorough review of the briefs, oral arguments of the
parties, and relevant portions of the record, we conclude the
district court was correct in granting the City’s motion for
summary judgment. We AFFIRM the district court’s grant of summary
judgment in favor of the City for essentially the reasons provided
by the district court.
AFFIRMED.
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