A federal court granted summary judgment to Des Moines, Wash. and its city manager on a parks and recreation employee’s First Amendment retaliation and defamation claims arising out of an investigation of her suspected deletion of electronic records and misappropriation of public funds. The employee alleged retaliation for her opposition to outsourcing the management of a senior center, but the city had a legitimate interest in investigating any potential criminal and financial misconduct, and it would’ve taken the same action even in the absence of her protected speech, the court said. She undisputedly left written notes for her successor that ...

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