Gomez v. County of Los Angeles

MEMORANDUM *

The district court did not err in denying Waldie’s motion for summary judgment, because he is not entitled, as a matter of law, to qualified immunity from Gomez’s First Amendment retaliation claim. Taking the facts in the light most favorable to Gomez, as we must on summary judgment, see Jeffers v. Gomez, 267 F.3d 895, 905-06 (9th Cir.2001), Gomez’s speech was a substantial or motivating factor in Waldie’s alleged efforts to block Gomez’s promotion, see, e.g., Schwartzman v. Valenzuela, 846 F.2d 1209, 1212 (9th Cir.1988); Allen v. Scribner, 812 F.2d 426, 434-35 (9th Cir.1987); see…