Lozman v. Riviera Beach

A Florida man, Fane Lozman, said the City of Riviera Beach had him arrested at a city council meeting to punish him for criticizing city officials and suing the city. On June 18, 2018, the Supreme Court decided the case about whether a First Amendment retaliatory-arrest claim could go forward even though there was probable cause for the arrest.

The case affects people who say local officials used an arrest to punish protected speech, such as criticism at a public meeting. It also matters to cities and police because it addresses whether probable cause automatically blocks that kind of First Amendment claim.

The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. Any further proceedings, if needed, would take place in the lower courts under the Supreme Court's decision.

Lozman said city officials had him arrested at a council meeting to punish his criticism and lawsuit against the city. The legal fight was whether probable cause automatically defeated that First Amendment claim.

It matters for residents who speak out at public meetings and later say officials retaliated against them. It also affects how cities and police defend arrests tied to speech disputes.

The Supreme Court's work on this docket action was over. Any remaining action would happen in the lower courts using the Supreme Court's decision as the guide.