Firm Prevails in Third Circuit Free Speech Appeal

August 2018

On August 28, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned an earlier District Court ruling and in favor of Williams & Connolly pro bono client Kelly Conard. Ms. Conard had sued her governmental employer for first amendment retaliation and defamation, but her lawsuit was dismissed. Associate Eric Hamilton argued the appeal, which involved questions relating to the applicable standard to apply to protected speech involving former governmental employees. In a precedential opinion, the court adopted Conard’s arguments and remanded the case to the trial court, where discovery will now proceed.  The court’s opinion “thank[ed] Conard’s attorneys on this appeal for having represented her in a fine way on a pro bono basis.”

The Williams & Connolly team representing Ms. Conrad included Nicholas J. Boyle and Eric J. Hamilton.

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