Date: 06-15-2013

Case Style: Robert Paden v. Texas County Board of County Commissioners

Case Number: 5:10-cv-01355-M

Judge: Vicki Miles-LaGrange

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (Oklahoma County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Ben Huston Ezzell, J David Ezzell, James W Shepherd, Ryan Wayne Schaller

Defendant's Attorney: Ambre C Gooch, Chris J Collins, Dustin J Hopson

Description: Robert Paden sued the Texas County Board of County Commissioners and Ted Keeling on a civil rights violation theory under 42 U.S.C. 1983 claiming to have been injured or damaged as a direct result of having his civil rights violated by the County or one of its employees involving his free speech rights relating to a matter of public concern.

Plaintiff Robert Paden brought this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against his former
employer, the Texas County Board of County Commissioners, and Keeling, his
former supervisor, alleging that he was terminated in violation of his rights of free
speech and free association under the First Amendment. In his complaint, Paden
alleged that while Keeling was running for re-election to the position of County
Commissioner, Paden supported Keeling’s opponent in the July 2010 primary
election. Paden claimed that Keeling later terminated his employment in August
2010 in retaliation for his exercise of his First Amendment rights.

See: United States Court of Appeals decision in Paden v. Texas County

Court minutes for the month of June, 2013:

06/05/2013 95 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange: Docket Call held on 6/5/2013. The Court sets a pretrial conference for Friday, June 7, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. and Jury Selection for Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. The Trial of this matter will begin immediately following jury selection. (Court Reporter Emily Eakle) (ks) (Entered: 06/06/2013)

06/06/2013 94 FINAL PRETRIAL REPORT. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/06/2013)

06/07/2013 96 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange: Final Pretrial Conference held on 6/7/2013. (ks) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 97 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Daniel Cappellucci, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 98 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Scott Rhodes, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 99 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Matt Starkey, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 100 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lynn Mason, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 101 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Jimmi Miller, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 102 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Doug Hanson, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 103 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Dick Fischer, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/07/2013 104 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lane Cappellucci, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/07/2013)

06/09/2013 105 MOTION in Limine by Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) STRICKEN by Order dated 6/10/2013 (njr). (Entered: 06/09/2013)

06/10/2013 106 ENTER ORDER: The Court resets the Jury Selection for Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. The trial will commence immediately following jury selection. Signed by Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange on 6/10/2013. (ks) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 107 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lowell Cathcart, filed by Defendants Ted Keeling, Texas County Board of County Commissioners. (Hopson, Dustin) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 108 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Dick Fischer, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 109 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Doug Hansen, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 110 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Doyle McBee, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 111 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lane Cappellucci, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 112 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lynn Mason, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 113 SUBPOENA RETURNED EXECUTED as to Non-Party Lowell Cathcart, filed by Plaintiff Robert Paden. (Shepherd, James) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 114 ORDER memorializing rulings made by the Court at the Pretrial Conference (as more fully set out in order). Signed by Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange on 6/10/2013. (ks) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/10/2013 115 ORDER striking 105 defendants' Fourth Motions in Limine (as more fully set out). Signed by Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange on 6/10/2013. (ks) (Entered: 06/10/2013)

06/11/2013 116 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange: Jury Trial begun on 6/11/2013. Evidence entered and testimony heard. Court adjourns to Wednesday, June 12th at 9:30 a.m. (Court Reporter Lynn Lee) (ks) (Entered: 06/12/2013)

06/12/2013 117 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange: Jury Trial held on 6/12/2013. Evidence presented and testimony heard. Parties rest. Court instructs the jury. Closing arguments heard. Joint Exhibits 16-24 withdrawn by agreement of the parties. Jury retires to deliberate. Court adjourns to Thursday, June 13th at 9:00 am for futher deliberations. (Court Reporter Lynn Lee) (ks) (Entered: 06/13/2013)

06/13/2013 118 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange: Jury Trial completed on 6/13/2013. (Court Reporter Lynn Lee) (ks) (Entered: 06/13/2013)

06/13/2013 119 Jury Instructions. (ks) (Entered: 06/13/2013)

06/13/2013 120 Jury Notes. (ks) (Entered: 06/13/2013)

06/13/2013 121 JURY VERDICT. (ks) (Entered: 06/13/2013)

06/14/2013 122 JUDGMENT in favor of defendant, Texas County Board of County Commissioners, against plaintiff, Robert Paden; in favor of plaintiff, Robert Paden, against defendant, Ted Keeling. Signed by Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange on 6/14/2013. (njr) (Entered: 06/14/2013)

Outcome: JUDGMENT in favor of defendant, Texas County Board of County Commissioners, against plaintiff, Robert Paden; in favor of plaintiff, Robert Paden, against defendant, Ted Keeling in the amount of $1,000.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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