Katz v. Secretary of Health & Human Services

Lanric Hyland worked for a lengthy period of time as a volunteer for the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department. In February 1989, Hyland prepared a memorandum to the Judges supervising the San Francisco Juvenile Hall that detailed numerous problems at the Hall and the failings of its director. Hylands supervisor terminated Hylands volunteer status and privileges immediately upon learning of the memorandums existence. Hyland filed suit alleging that his termination constituted impermissible retaliation for protected speech in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal Constitution. The district court dismissed Hylands complaint for failure to state a claim. Hyland appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part.