Ex-professor who called Sandy Hook shooting a hoax sues over firing

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Ex-professor who called Sandy Hook shooting a hoax sues over firing
By Letitia Stein
April 26, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - A former Florida college professor who was fired after he suggested the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was a hoax has sued the school for violation of his right to free speech, his attorney said on Tuesday.

James Tracy was dismissed in January by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where he had taught since 2002. His website, MemoryHoleBlog.com, gained notice in 2013 after he claimed the December 2012 massacre by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, was staged. The attack killed 26 people, including 20 children.

The civil lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday, claims that the firing violated his rights, including free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution. Tracy seeks to be reinstated and compensated for economic and other damages, according to a copy of the lawsuit provided by his attorney.

"Tenure, free speech, due process and academic freedom are under attack," his attorney Louis Leo IV said in a news release.


Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-professor-called-sandy-hook-shooting-hoax-sues-174551828.html?nhp=1

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[Skittles]

1. yet another rabid repuke who does not understand the concept of FREE SPEECH

IDIOT

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. You have a right to your own opinion, not your own FACTS

I think the university was well within their rights to fire someone who is profoundly stupid and/or a conspiracy theory nutcase.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. If the university is a private one

he has zero chance of winning.

[groundloop]

5. Nope - public university (Florida Atlantic)

Still, employment is pretty much at-will unless he has a contract.

[Kelvin Mace]

10. Well, his claim will be

that the state government is infringing his First Amendment rights.

[flamin lib]

4. Freedom of speech guarantees you the right to say foolish things.

It does not guarantee you a job while you say them.

[Chakab]

6. This has nothing to do with free speech. However, he may have a case if he was tenured.

Tenured educators are entitled to due process and cannot be summarily dismissed. This is an important protection for employers, and it should be fervently supported even a particular person holds distasteful and silly personal opinions.

[matt819]

7. Have these vile excuses for people have no shame? (nt)

[d_r]

8. I do not

I do not support a single thing this crazy man has said.

However, he had tenure and I support 100% his right to say it.

It is clear that Florida Atlantic was looking for a chance to fire him - he was fired for not filing an annual conflict of interest form.

Although I don't agree with him in any way, I think it is chilling for a university to hunt for a way to fire a tenured faculty member for saying disagreeable things.

[scscholar]

9. You can always tell CONservatives...

by their eyes.

[The Second Stone]

11. I think the existence of this man is a hoax

staged by the State of Florida to convince people that tenure is a bad thing. That photo is probably that of a paid actor.