Keane & Beane, P.C. Successfully Obtains Summary Judgment Dismissing Former Police Officer’s Federal Lawsuit

On January 8, 2016, the Honorable Lisa Margaret Smith, United States Magistrate Judge of the Southern District of New York, issued a Decision granting summary judgment in favor of the Village of Spring Valley and the Chief of Police of the Village of Spring Valley, dismissing Plaintiff’s claims of First Amendment retaliation, conspiracy to retaliate and malicious prosecution. Plaintiff alleged that he was arrested, criminally charged and terminated from his position as a police officer in retaliation for the exercise of his First Amendment rights. Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $10 million. Keane & Beane, P.C., on behalf of the Chief of Police, filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, arguing: Plaintiff failed to demonstrate a causal connection between any alleged exercise of Plaintiff’s First Amendmend rights and any subsequent adverse action; that Plaintiff’s conspiracy claim was barred by the intra-corporate conspiracy doctrine; and that Plaintiff failed to establish all the necessary elements for a claim for malicious prosecution. The Decision confirms that the Chief of Police acted appropriately in regard to Plaintiff and did not retaliate against him or otherwise violate his rights. Lance H. Klein and William Kang represented the Chief of Police on behalf of Keane & Beane, P.C.