Case: 524 F.3d 91 (1st Cir. 2008)
Five Bristol County correctional guards were punished for speaking out about protracted labor negotiations with their employer, the Bristol County Sheriff. They sued in federal court claiming back pay and damages for retaliatory suspensions imposed by the Sheriff. A federal court jury awarded the officers their full lost wages plus $175,000 in attorney’s fees. The Sheriff unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the jury verdict in the First Circuit Court of Appeals and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court. He failed, spending well over $1,000,000 of taxpayers’ money in the process of losing his point.