$485K Settlement in Government Employee Speech Case Stemming from Comments About Charlie Kirk's Death
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has settled a case with a former employee for $485,000 following her termination over comments related to Charlie Kirk's views on gun deaths. The settlement includes $275,000 in damages and $210,000 in attorney fees, along with a neutral reference for future employment. The plaintiff agreed to resign and drop her case as part of the settlement terms.
- ▪The case was settled for a total of $485,000, which includes compensatory damages and attorney fees.
- ▪The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission agreed to provide a neutral reference for the plaintiff in future employment inquiries.
- ▪The plaintiff's termination stemmed from her reposting comments that criticized Charlie Kirk's views on the Second Amendment.
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| Original publisher | Reason Magazine |
| Canonical URL | https://reason.com/volokh/2026/05/21/485k-settlement-in-government-employee-speech-case-stemming-from-comments-about-charlie-kirks-death/ |
| Publication time | Thu, 21 May 2026 19:21:38 +0000 |
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Free Speech $485K Settlement in Government Employee Speech Case Stemming from Comments About Charlie Kirk's Death Eugene Volokh | 5.21.2026 3:21 PM The case, Brown v. Young, just settled; the government employer (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) agreed to pay plaintiff $275K ($40K in back wages + $235K in compensatory damages) + $210K in attorneys' fees and costs. The Commission also agreed to give plaintiff a neutral reference in any future employment inquiries, and (to quote the ACLU press release), "to permit her to interact with FWC staff and resources on the same basis as any other external partner or volunteer, preserving her ability to continue her conservation work through partner organizations." In exchange plaintiff resigned, dropped the case, and released…
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