Silencing The Citizens From Speaking At A Public Meeting Is A Very Wrong Thing To Do And Soon To Be A Costly Move For Lisbon Residents

ACLU challenges town council's public comment rules

By The Associated Press
02.03.02

PITTSBURGH — The American Civil Liberties Union doesn't think Plum borough's new public comment rules are too peachy.

The ACLU on Jan. 29 asked a federal judge to strike down requirements that residents of the rural borough sign up 30 minutes in advance and speak only about items on public meeting agendas.

The new rules also give the borough council president the right to silence speakers who make comments that he believes are "scandalous, impertinent and redundant." The ACLU is representing four borough residents.

"The First Amendment and the state's Sunshine Law simply do not allow borough officials to restrict residents' speech about important political matters pertaining to Plum's governmental affairs," said David Millstein, a Greensburg attorney who has volunteered to handle the case for the ACLU.

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City council critic settles lawsuit over barred comments

By The Associated Press
12.15.01

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — A man barred from speaking during city council meetings has reached a settlement for $75,000 in his lawsuit against the city and mayor.

Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England barred Tommy H. Luckett, who has lived in the town 30 years, from speaking during the public comment portion of two council meetings in 1999.

Luckett had spoken at several meetings against the city's flood control plan after he reluctantly sold the city some property for the project. England said Luckett's comments were harshly critical of the council, city and city staff.  

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Ala. woman arrested after council meeting wins damages

By The Associated Press
07.28.06

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jurors awarded a Walker County woman $175,000 in damages related to her arrest after she spoke against the Parrish Water Board at a Town Council meeting.

The federal court jury in Birmingham on July 20 ruled in favor of Sharon Myers and against the Town of Parrish and Mayor Wilford Cagle.

The verdict included $150,000 in compensatory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages against Cagle.

Myers' attorney, Bill Dawson, said the verdict was fair.

Tom Hale, an attorney for the town and the mayor, said there was never a dispute that Myers had the right to free speech.

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Judge backs Alabama teacher's right to speak at board meeting

By The Associated Press
11.08.04

MOBILE, Ala. — A judge has ruled that the Mobile County school board violated a teacher's freedom of speech in halting her remarks to the board when about 200 teachers applauded and cheered.

Issuing a preliminary injunction on Nov. 5 against the school board, Circuit Judge Joseph Johnston said Cindy Naylor's speech about teachers' workloads could not be cut short on the "mere basis that others react positively to it."

Johnston said the third-grade teacher's freedom of speech was violated during an Oct. 26 meeting when school board President Lonnie Parsons asked her to stop speaking and sit down.

The judge ordered the board to schedule another meeting within 10 days where she can finish her five-minute speech. Parsons said he would comply with the order.

In going to court, Naylor wasn't seeking any damages. Naylor said she was pleased with the decision.

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Censorship at Town Council Meetings is not only wrong it can also be expensive . Our councilors may be placing us in jeopardy of lawsuits like the ones above.

Will We See Lisbon In Court  Once Again,,, All To Lose?  Stay Tuned This One Is Just Getting Wound Up!