High Court Backs Florida Man Arrested at City Council Meeting

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court revived a lawsuit by a man who says he was arrested at a south Florida city council meeting in retaliation for his longstanding criticisms of local officials.

The justices, voting 8-1, said the City of Riviera Beach may have violated Fane Lozman’s rights even if officials had legal grounds to arrest him for refusing to stop speaking at a 2006 council meeting.

The ruling may entitle Lozman to a new trial on his retaliation claims. A jury sided with the city in 2014 after the trial judge said Lozman had to show that officials lacked legitimate grounds to arrest him.

Justice Clarence Thomas dissented.

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