Powers v. County of Suffolk, et al., CV 15-5116 (E.D.N.Y.) June 6, 2017

Plaintiff Powers, in the course of representing a client, got into a dispute with state traffic agency officials in Suffolk County, New York, in the course of which Powers was handcuffed and detained by security officers.  Powers sued officials under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, asserting that he was in the exercise of his First Amendment right to free speech while advocating on behalf of a client.  

The Eastern District of New York dismissed Powers’ claims, as there is no constitutional protection that attaches to pursuing litigation on behalf of a client.  

Powers v. Cnty. of Suffolk (E.D.N.Y., 2017)United States v. Mohammad (N.D. Ohio, 2017)