On October 11, 2011, three protestors associated with Occupy Dallas, a large continuous political protest, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the City of Dallas under 42 U.S.C. §1983 for violations of their First Amendment rights. The ...
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On October 11, 2011, three protestors associated with Occupy Dallas, a large continuous political protest, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the City of Dallas under 42 U.S.C. §1983 for violations of their First Amendment rights. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, claimed that the City of Dallas' requirement that in order to be issued a event permit plaintiffs obtain general liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 deprived plaintiffs of their right to expression. Specifically, plaintiffs contended that the city acted intentionally to chill plaintiffs' speech, discredit them by damaging their reputation, and punishing them for exercising their free-speech rights. Plaintiffs sought damages for lost earnings and damage to reputation.
On October 12, 2011, plaintiffs moved for a preliminary and permanent injunction to enjoin the City of Dallas from unreasonably interfering with their rights to free expression in public forums. The Court (Judge Jane J. Boyle) ordered a hearing on the motion.
On October 14, 2011, the parties agreed to stipulations. The stipulation stated, inter alia, that the "Special Events" of the Dallas City Code did not apply to the grounds of the Dallas Convention Center. Accordingly, no permit from the city was necessary for the plaintiffs to continue their protesting activities.
On October 18, 2011, the parties filed an agreed motion to dismiss the case without prejudice. The District Court (Judge Jane J. Boyle) entered the order on the same day.
Richard Jolly - 05/17/2014
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