Litchfield Cavo Obtains Summary Judgment for the Chicago Housing Authority in a Civil Rights Lawsuit

On September 16, 2015, the Honorable Judge Joan B. Gottschall granted the summary judgment motion of Litchfield Cavo’s clients – the Chicago Housing Authority (the “CHA”), Jessica Porter and Kenneth Love – in a case alleging the CHA retaliated against a landlord participant of CHA’s Section 8 housing program.

The Plaintiff, David Schlessinger, alleged that the CHA and certain of its employees and contractors had retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech. He alleged that after he had criticized the CHA’s housing inspectors and its inspection process, the CHA retaliated against him by taking actions adverse to his interests as a participant in the CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.

In seeking summary judgment, Litchfield Cavo attorneys argued that the speech Schlessinger claimed was constitutionally protected was not because it concerned his own self-interests rather than matters of public concern. Judge Gottschall agreed, finding that Schlessinger had failed to identify any protected speech.

The CHA and its employees and contractors were defended by lead attorney Michael Hahn and associate Matthew Gardner of Litchfield Cavo LLP.