Goldberg Segalla partner Meghan M. Brown secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of a former university police chief in a case that drew national media attention.

The lawsuit was brought by a partisan national non-profit organization and a student organization from the university following a 2019 incident in which an invited speaker was shouted down by protesters and unable to complete his presentation. The plaintiffs alleged that university officials and the police chief violated their First Amendment rights.

Over the course of several years of litigation, most claims and defendants were dismissed, leaving our client as the sole remaining defendant. By the time the case reached trial, the plaintiffs’ claims were limited to allegations against him in his individual capacity.

Meghan became involved in the matter during the summary judgment phase and played a key role in narrowing the case. Her strategy focused on demonstrating that our client had not suppressed anyone’s speech but instead acted within the scope of his duties as chief of police to maintain public safety and manage anticipated demonstrations surrounding the event.

The weeklong jury trial featured extensive witness testimony and expert evidence presented by the plaintiffs. Meghan countered by presenting a clear and disciplined defense centered on the facts surrounding the university’s preparations for the event, the police department’s response to anticipated protests, and our client’s efforts to address evolving safety concerns.

Despite the high-profile nature of the dispute and the significant resources brought by the plaintiffs, Meghan successfully persuaded the jury that no constitutional violation had occurred. After approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our client on all remaining claims.

The verdict represents a significant victory in a rare First Amendment case to proceed to trial.