Legal Opinion
Pereira v. Commissioner of Social Services
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided August 9, 2000PublishedCited by 9 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtMarshall, C.J.
We consider whether an investigator employed by the Department of Social Services (DSS or department) may be disciplined for making an offensive racist comment at a testimonial dinner for retiring members of a city council. We conclude that the decision taken by a public agency to discharge her must be upheld. We reverse an order of summary judgment in favor of the employee.
In September, 1996, Linda M. Pereira commenced this action against the department and its commissioner, in her official capacity and individually, alleging that she had been terminated from her position as a DSS social…
2Cases cited33 opinions
- Harlow v. FitzgeraldSupreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Anderson v. CreightonSupreme Court of the United States · 1987
- New York Times Co. v. SullivanSupreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. DoyleSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
- Pickering v. Board of Ed. of Township High School Dist. 205, Will Cty.Supreme Court of the United States · 1968
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3Cited by9 opinions
- Howcroft v. City of PeabodyMassachusetts Appeals Court · 2001
- Commonwealth v. BeanMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2002
- D.C. v. R.R.California Court of Appeal · 2010
- Commonwealth v. RexMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2014
- Festa v. Westchester Med. Ctr. Health NetworkDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois · 2019
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