Case Explained: 26a0228p.06

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-13 The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of both qualified immunity and statutory immunity to City Manager Sheryl Long in a civil rights action brought by former Fire Chief Michael Washington. The court held that Long is not entitled to qualified immunity for violating Washington’s procedural due process rights because it was clearly established law that a public employee with “for-cause” removal protection under the Cincinnati City Charter is entitled to a pre-termination hearing, and the memorandum Washington signed did not contain “clear and unmistakable language” waiving those constitutional rights. The court further affirmed the denial of statutory immunity for the defamation claim, ruling that viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Washington, a reasonable jury could find that Long acted with malice or bad faith under Ohio Revised Code § 2744.03(A)(6)(b) by knowingly making false statements about his termination while disregarding her legal department’s advice and the Charter’s requirements. The case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.