Summary judgment is improper when evidence suggests a defendant acted with a desire to maximize harm rather than a legitimate concern for receiving requested information.
Plaintiffs brought a section 1983 action alleging that government officials suspended their business permits and notified their customers in retaliation for protected speech and litigation. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants, finding no deprivation of a protected interest. The court holds that a plaintiff alleging retaliation for exercising constitutionally protected rights must show that the protected conduct was a substantial or motivating factor in the defendant's decision. While the defendants established they could have suspended the permits under statute, they failed to prove they would have done so in the absence of the protected conduct. Thus, the retaliatory motive remains a genuine issue of material fact.
At page 1314 Subsuming access to courts under first amendment right to petition47 citing cases“the right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.”
- Thompson, No. 3:25-cv-01921 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 28, 2025).([A] plaintiff 1 alleging retaliation for the exercise of constitutionally protected rights must initially show 2 that the protected conduct was a ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor in the defendant’s 3 decision.)
- Carepartners, LLC v. Lashway, 545 F.3d 867 (9th Cir. 2008).published (The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
- Carepartners LLC, Et v. Lashway, No. 07-35125 (9th Cir. Sept. 24, 2008).published (The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
- RK Ventures, Inc. v. City of Seattle, 307 F.3d 1045 (9th Cir. 2002).published (It is clear that ‘[s]tate action designed to retaliate against and chill political expression strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.’)
- Michael A. DiMatteo v. Hurdle Clay Jacke, II et al, No. 2:25-cv-00925 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 28, 2026).“there is no dispute that plaintiff has a protected interest in commenting on the actions of government officials.”
- Kinsey, No. 3:25-cv-01225 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2026).([A] plaintiff alleging retaliation for the exercise of constitutionally 24 protected rights must initially show that the protected conduct was a ‘substantial’ or 25 ‘motivating’ factor in the defendant’s decision.)
- Betts v. Terronez, No. 3:25-cv-01296 (S.D. Cal. July 7, 2025).([A] plaintiff 5 alleging retaliation for the exercise of constitutionally protected rights must initially show 6 that [] protected conduct was a ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor in the defendant’s 7 decision.)
- D' Souza v. City of San Clemente, No. 24-2423 (9th Cir. May 22, 2025).unpublished (The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
- Kakowski v. SGT Gonzales, No. 3:24-cv-01314 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 1, 2025).([A] plaintiff alleging retaliation for the exercise of 2 constitutionally protected rights must initially show that the protected conduct was a 3 ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor in the defendant’s decision.)
- Gerald Pizzuto, Jr. v. Josh Tewalt, 997 F.3d 893 (9th Cir. 2021).published(The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
Show 37 more citing cases
- Williams v. Navarro, No. 3:18-cv-01318-DMS-BGS (S.D. Cal. Nov. 2, 2020).(The right of access to the courts is 1 subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of 2 grievances.)
- (PC) Camposeco v. Stamper, No. 1:19-cv-01330 (E.D. Cal. July 31, 2020).(The right of access to the courts is 6 subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
- Williams v. Navarro, No. 3:18-cv-01318-DMS-BGS (S.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2020).(The right of 3 access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government 4 for redress of grievances.)
- Steshenko v. Gayrard, 70 F. Supp. 3d 979 (N.D. Cal. 2014).published (The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
- Quinones v. Potter, 661 F. Supp. 2d 1105 (D. Ariz. 2009).published([A] plaintiff alleging retaliation for the exercise of constitutionally protected rights must initially show that the protected conduct was a ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor in the defendant’s decision.)
- Ajaelo, No. 3:24-cv-02472 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 9, 2026).Applicable Law 24 “To prevail on a retaliation claim, a plaintiff must show that his protected conduct 25 was the ‘substantial’ or ‘motivating’ factor behind the defendant’s conduct.” Brodheim, 26 584 F.3d at 1271 (quoting Soranno’s Gasco,…
- Birt, No. 2:25-cv-01848 (D. Ariz. Dec. 18, 2025).Heritage Farms v. Elsasser, 32 F.4th 707, 722 (9th Cir. 2022), by alleging 22 that he complained to the City that the Ordinance was unconstitutional, see Dahlia v. 23 Rodriguez, 735 F.3d 1060, 1077–78 (9th Cir. 2013), and by appealing the…
- (PC) Hackworth v. Arevalos, No. 1:19-cv-01362 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2022).Brodheim, 584 F.3d at 1271 (quoting Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1314). “[P]laintiff 9 must show that the defendant’s retaliatory animus was ‘a “but-for” cause, meaning that the 10 adverse action against the plaintiff would not have been t…
- Burns v. Miranda, No. 3:20-cv-00227 (D. Alaska Sept. 21, 2021). Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287 (1977)); see also Sorranno’s Gasco, Inc., 874 F.2d at 1314. 57 Dockets 1 at 3; 23 at 4. 58 Docket 22 (referencing Docket 21-14). 59 Docket 21-18. 60 Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 808 (citing Sorann…
- (PC) Penton v. Hubard, No. 2:11-cv-00518 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 12, 2021).(Salas Dep. at 85:4-20; 101:4-9.) 24 Discussion 25 While plaintiff is correct that retaliatory motive can be proven by circumstantial evidence, 26 “a plaintiff must show that his protected conduct was the substantial or motivating factor b…
- Jayendra Shah v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 472 F. App'x 451 (9th Cir. 2012).unpublishedSoranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1314 (internal quotation marks removed).
- Hurd v. Garcia, 454 F. Supp. 2d 1032 (S.D. Cal. 2006).published(the “government” to which the First Amendment guarantees a right to redress of grievances includes prison authorities.)
- Koch v. Lewis, 96 F. Supp. 2d 949 (D. Ariz. 2000).published Soranno’s, 874 F.2d at 1314, quoting Mt.
- Smith v. Sublett, 983 F.2d 1077 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Arthur W. Carson v. Michael Hennessey, Sheriff Robert Roper, Sergeant, 34 F.3d 1071 (9th Cir. 1994).unpublished
- Shins v. Laytonville Unified Sch. Dist., 46 F.3d 1145 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Lpi Downtown Investors 1 Michael H. Lapidus v. Mun. Court of the Cnty. of Los Angeles James K. Hahn, 51 F.3d 281 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Kenneth L. Krause David R. Bean Edward F. Wills v. Russ Hebert William Palzcewski Com. Drapery Contractors, Inc., 94 F.3d 651 (9th Cir. 1996).unpublished
- Rendish v. City of Tacoma, 123 F.3d 1216 (9th Cir. 1997).published
- Peter Anderson v. Ramon Davila Kenneth Mapp Robert Soto Elton Lewis Gov't of the Virgin Islands, D/B/A Virgin Islands Police Dep't, 125 F.3d 148 (3d Cir. 1997).published
- Lytle v. Wondrash, 182 F.3d 1083 (9th Cir. 1999).published
- Thoma v. Hickel, 947 P.2d 816 (Alaska 1997).published
- Lucero v. Hensley, 920 F. Supp. 1067 (C.D. Cal. 1996).published
- Hines v. Gomez, 853 F. Supp. 329 (N.D. Cal. 1994).published
- Buckley v. Gomez, 36 F. Supp. 2d 1216 (S.D. Cal. 1997).published
- Shannon Riley v. S. Roach, 572 F. App'x 504 (9th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- S. Atl. Companies, LLC v. Sch. Bd. of Orange Cnty., Florida, 699 F. App'x 842 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Wayson v. Rundell, 337 F. App'x 687 (9th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- Yellow Cab of Reno, Inc. v. Reno Cab Co., 254 F. App'x 611 (9th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- Torricellas v. Poole, 954 F. Supp. 1405 (C.D. Cal. 1997).published
- Jonathan Acosta Edward C. Acosta v. Chino Unified Sch. Dist., a Mun. Entity Larry Gillespie, in His Capacity as a Sch. Adm'r & Teacher, Respectively of the Sch. Dist. Craig Miller, in His \Off.\" Capacity as Sch. Adm'r & Teacher, 15 F.3d 1082 (9th Cir. 1994).published
- Whitbeck v. Lewis, 52 F.3d 336 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Allison v. Badgett, 95 F.3d 1156 (9th Cir. 1996).unpublished
- Nat'l Ass'n of Radiation Survivors v. Derwinski, 778 F. Supp. 1096 (N.D. Cal. 1991).published
- Nat'l Ass'n of Radiation Survivors v. Derwinski, 782 F. Supp. 1392 (N.D. Cal. 1992).published
- Moongate Water Co., Inc. v. State, 902 P.2d 554 (N.M. Ct. App. 1995).published
- Deepa Patel v. City of Stanton, No. 8:24-cv-00780 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 26, 2024).
At page 1315 Analyzing the mt. healthy causation test for retaliation17 citing casesholding that suspending permits constituted actionable retaliation even though the defendants had the statutory authority to do so
- Stuart v. Scottsdale, City of, No. 2:20-cv-00755 (D. Ariz. Aug. 3, 2020).Sorrano’s Gasco concerned an agency’s decision to suspend certain permits because 11 the plaintiff publicly criticized and sued the agency. 874 F.2d at 1315-16.
- David Hill Dev., LLC v. City of Forest Grove, 688 F. Supp. 2d 1193 (D. Or. 2010).published In Soranno’s Gasco, Inc. v. Morgan, *1214 the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants retaliated against them for “publicly criticizing the defendants and initiating litigation against them.” 874 F.2d at 1313.
- David v. Baker, 129 F. App'x 358 (9th Cir. 2005).unpublished(holding that suspending permits constituted actionable retaliation even though the defendants had the statutory authority to do so)
- Lily Keyser Maria Sofia Robledo Richard M. Cisneros v. Sacramento City Unified Sch. Dist., a Pub. Entity & James Sweeney, 238 F.3d 1132 (9th Cir. 2001).published (reversing summary judgment because the evidence suggested that the defendant had a "desire to maximize the harm inflicted upon Soranno, rather than a concern with receiving the requested information)
- Koch v. Lewis, 96 F. Supp. 2d 949 (D. Ariz. 2000).published Soranno’s, 874 F.2d at 1314, quoting Mt.
- Smith v. Sublett, 983 F.2d 1077 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Arthur W. Carson v. Michael Hennessey, Sheriff Robert Roper, Sergeant, 34 F.3d 1071 (9th Cir. 1994).unpublished
- Shins v. Laytonville Unified Sch. Dist., 46 F.3d 1145 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Smith v. Sublett, 977 F.2d 591 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Ernie R. Sanders v. Rob Roberts, Warden Aura Gonzalez Corrine Gilroy, 983 F.2d 1077 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
Show 6 more citing cases
- S. David Aviel v. Maurice Dance Jay Tontz, 21 F.3d 1111 (9th Cir. 1994).unpublished
- 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8316, 95 Daily Journal D.A.R. 14,415 Douglas Clements Sue Clements v. Airport Auth. of Washoe Cnty. Robert White, Individually & as Exec. Dir. of the Airport Auth. of Washoe Cnty. Bd. of Trs. of the Airport Auth. of Washoe Cnty., 69 F.3d 321 (9th Cir. 1995).published
- Joseph J. Hayes v. Augie Lopez, Prog. Adm'r D.N. Sayer, Corr. Officer C.L. Parson, Corr. Officer C.J. Williams, 107 F.3d 16 (9th Cir. 1997).unpublished
- Allen v. Iranon, 283 F.3d 1070 (9th Cir. 2002).published
- Clements v. Airport Auth. of Washoe Cnty., 69 F.3d 321 (9th Cir. 1995).published
- Whitbeck v. Lewis, 52 F.3d 336 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
At page 1316 Defining property interests and assessing liability for governmental action17 citing casesWe look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.
- Carepartners, LLC v. Lashway, 545 F.3d 867 (9th Cir. 2008).published Co. v. NLRB, 536 U.S. 516, 525 , 122 S.Ct. 2390 , 153 L.Ed.2d 499 (2002) (stating that the right to petition extends to all departments of government and that the right of access to the courts is but one aspect of the right of petition); S…
- Carepartners LLC, Et v. Lashway, No. 07-35125 (9th Cir. Sept. 24, 2008).published Co. v. NLRB, 536 U.S. 516, 525 (2002) (stating that the right to petition extends to all departments of government and that the right of access to the courts is but one aspect of the right of petition); Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1314 (“…
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published (We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.)
- 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2375, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 3950 Wmx Tech., Inc., F/k/a/ Waste Mgmt., Inc., a Delaware Corp. & Waste Mgmt. of California, Inc., a California Corp. v. Edwin L. Miller, Jr., as Dist. Attorney of San Diego Cnty., California, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published (We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.)
- D' Souza v. City of San Clemente, No. 24-2423 (9th Cir. May 22, 2025).unpublished See Soranno’s Gasco, Inc. v. Morgan, 874 F.2d 1310 , 1314 (9th Cir. 1989) (“The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.”).
- Burns v. Miranda, No. 3:20-cv-00227 (D. Alaska Sept. 21, 2021). Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287 (1977)); see also Sorranno’s Gasco, Inc., 874 F.2d at 1314. 57 Dockets 1 at 3; 23 at 4. 58 Docket 22 (referencing Docket 21-14). 59 Docket 21-18. 60 Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 808 (citing Sorann…
- Faye Slice v. Mike Ferriter, 448 F. App'x 725 (9th Cir. 2011).unpublishedBruce v. Ylst, 351 F.3d 1283, 1288 (9th Cir.2003) (“ ‘[Tjiming can properly be considered as circumstantial evidence of retaliatory intent’” (quoting Pratt v. Rowland, 65 F.3d 802, 805 (9th Cir.1995))); Soranno’s Gaseo, 874 F.2d at 1316.
- Fielder v. Gehring, 110 F. Supp. 2d 1312 (D. Haw. 2000).publishedCassidy, 915 F.2d at 530 ; Soranno’s, 874 F.2d at 1316.
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 197 F.3d 367 (9th Cir. 1999).published Id. at 1316.
- Thoma v. Hickel, 947 P.2d 816 (Alaska 1997).published
Show 6 more citing cases
- Torricellas v. Poole, 954 F. Supp. 1405 (C.D. Cal. 1997).published
- Smith v. Sublett, 977 F.2d 591 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Ernie R. Sanders v. Rob Roberts, Warden Aura Gonzalez Corrine Gilroy, 983 F.2d 1077 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Poole v. Cnty. of Otero, 271 F.3d 955 (10th Cir. 2001).published
- Bruce v. California Dept. of Corr., 983 F.2d 1075 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Whitbeck v. Lewis, 52 F.3d 336 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
At page 1318 Justifying immediate seizure for public health protection10 citing casesWe reject Gasco’s argument that due process was violated because no immediate threat to public health was involved in this particular situation.
- Calderon v. City & Cnty. of Denver, No. 1:18-cv-00756 (D. Colo. Sept. 17, 2019). But see Sorrano’s Gasco, Inc. v. Morgan, 874 F.2d 1310 , 1319 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that plaintiff’s allegations of 4Plaintiff alleges that defendants “attempted to discredit [her] by spreading the false and malicious rumor that [she] h…
- Martino Recchia v. City of La Dept. Animal Svcs., 889 F.3d 553 (9th Cir. 2018).published(We reject Gasco’s argument that due process was violated because no immediate threat to public health was involved in this particular situation.)
- RK Ventures, Inc. v. City of Seattle, 307 F.3d 1045 (9th Cir. 2002).published See Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1314 (“It is clear that ‘[s]tate action designed to retaliate against and chill political expression strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.’ ”) (quoting Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334, 1338 (9…
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 (“We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.”); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2375, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 3950 Wmx Tech., Inc., F/k/a/ Waste Mgmt., Inc., a Delaware Corp. & Waste Mgmt. of California, Inc., a California Corp. v. Edwin L. Miller, Jr., as Dist. Attorney of San Diego Cnty., California, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno's Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 ("We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests."); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- Chakravarty v. Peterson, No. 2:20-cv-01576 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 19, 2021).“it is 18 not sufficient for the plaintiff to assert a personal economic injury resulting from a wrong to the 19 corporation.”
- Lumbreras v. Roberts, 319 F. Supp. 2d 1191 (D. Or. 2004).published“it is well-settled that protection of the public interest can justify an immediate seizure of property without a hearing.”
- Cheteni v. Vella, No. 3:23-cv-06286 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 26, 2025). The Court determined the plaintiffs’ argument regarding First 16 Amendment retaliation “clearly alleges a direct and independent personal wrong” because the 17 violated rights “belong to Mr. Soranno, not the corporation.” Id. at 1318-19.
- Cagle v. King Cnty., 70 F. App'x 450 (9th Cir. 2003).unpublished “It is well-settled that protection of the public interest can justify an immediate seizure of property without a prior hearing.” Soranno’s, 874 F.2d at 1318.
- Chalkboard, Inc. Karen M. Hoyt v. Susan Brandt Boyd Dover Lucinda Blair Andy Harclerode Sherry Meredith Lloyd Novick Douglas X. Patino Darwin Cox, 902 F.2d 1375 (9th Cir. 1990).published
At page 1319 Standing for individual plaintiffs despite shared conduct9 citing cases“it could hardly be disputed that ... an individual had a clearly established right to be free of intentional retaliation by government officials based upon that individual's constitutionally protected expression.”
- Elizabeth Retail Props. LLC v. Keybank Nat'l Ass'n, 83 F. Supp. 3d 972 (D. Or. 2015).published(The fact that these injuries arose from the same conduct as the corporate injuries does not preclude a finding of direct and independent injury to individual plaintiffs for standing purposes. This circuit has held that…)
- Oakes Farms Food & Distrib. Servs., LLC v. The Sch. Dist. of Lee Cnty., Florida, 541 F. Supp. 3d 1334 (M.D. Fla. 2021).published“the first amendment rights that were allegedly violated belong to mr. soranno, not the corporation. mr. soranno clearly has standing to contest the deprivation of those rights.”
- Castaneda, No. 6:23-cv-01803 (D. Or. Jan. 29, 2026).The Ninth Circuit noted that any act taken in retaliation of Soranno’s rights under the First Amendment “clearly alleges a direct and independent personal wrong.” Because the rights at issue belonged to Soranno, not the corporation, “Soran…
- Cheteni v. Vella, No. 3:23-cv-06286 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 26, 2025). The Court determined the plaintiffs’ argument regarding First 16 Amendment retaliation “clearly alleges a direct and independent personal wrong” because the 17 violated rights “belong to Mr. Soranno, not the corporation.” Id. at 1318-19.
- Shins v. Laytonville Unified Sch. Dist., 46 F.3d 1145 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Rick Prancevic v. Danny MacAgni, 567 F. App'x 498 (9th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- 97 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 4944, 97 Daily Journal D.A.R. 8074 Lanric Hyland v. Roy L. Wonder, Supervising Judge, Juv. Court, Superior Court of the City & Cnty. of San Francisco, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Daniel M. Hanlon, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of the City & Cnty. of San Francisco, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Dennis Sweeney, Chief Prob. Officer, San Francisco Juv. Prob. Dep't, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Fred Jordan, Chief Prob. Officer, San Francisco Juv. Prob. Dep't, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Stephen La Plante, Dir., Juv. Hall, Individually & in His Off. Capacity, 117 F.3d 405 (9th Cir. 1997).published
- Hyland v. Wonder, 117 F.3d 405 (9th Cir. 1997).published
- Ortiz v. Alvarez, 341 F. Supp. 3d 1087 (E.D. Cal. 2018).published
At page 1313 Suspension of permits and alleged retaliation7 citing cases“publicly criticizing the defendants and initiating litigation against them”
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 (“We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.”); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2375, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 3950 Wmx Tech., Inc., F/k/a/ Waste Mgmt., Inc., a Delaware Corp. & Waste Mgmt. of California, Inc., a California Corp. v. Edwin L. Miller, Jr., as Dist. Attorney of San Diego Cnty., California, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno's Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 ("We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests."); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- Westwood v. City of Hermiston, 787 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (D. Or. 2011).publishedId. at 1313.
- David Hill Dev., LLC v. City of Forest Grove, 688 F. Supp. 2d 1193 (D. Or. 2010).published “publicly criticizing the defendants and initiating litigation against them”
- Jefferson v. Tuteur, 261 F. App'x 10 (9th Cir. 2007).unpublishedSoranno’s Gasco, Inc., 874 F.2d at 1313-14.
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 197 F.3d 367 (9th Cir. 1999).published Id. at 1316.
At page 1312 Describing the nature of the business entity4 citing cases
- WMX Tech., Inc. v. Miller, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno’s Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 (“We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests.”); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2375, 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 3950 Wmx Tech., Inc., F/k/a/ Waste Mgmt., Inc., a Delaware Corp. & Waste Mgmt. of California, Inc., a California Corp. v. Edwin L. Miller, Jr., as Dist. Attorney of San Diego Cnty., California, 80 F.3d 1315 (9th Cir. 1996).published See Soranno's Gasco, 874 F.2d at 1316 ("We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests."); Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12 , 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66 , 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976) (lin…
- David Hill Dev., LLC v. City of Forest Grove, 688 F. Supp. 2d 1193 (D. Or. 2010).published In Soranno’s Gasco, Inc. v. Morgan, *1214 the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants retaliated against them for “publicly criticizing the defendants and initiating litigation against them.” 874 F.2d at 1313.
- F.R.Y. v. Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners, 837 F. Supp. 330 (D. Colo. 1991).published
At page 1317 “either the necessity of quick action by 10 the state or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of post-deprivation procedures, can satisfy the 12 requirements of procedural due process.”4 citing cases
- Delashaw v. Roberts, No. 2:18-cv-01850 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 21, 2020).“either the necessity of quick action by 10 the state or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of post-deprivation procedures, can satisfy the 12 req…”
- Delashaw v. Roberts, No. 2:18-cv-01850 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 7, 2020).“either the necessity of quick action by 10 the state or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of post-deprivation procedures, can satisfy the 12 req…”
- Hall v. California Dep't of Corr., 835 F. Supp. 522 (N.D. Cal. 1993).published
- Sanchez v. City of Santa Ana, 915 F.2d 424 (9th Cir. 1990).published
[E]ither the necessity of quick action by 10 the State or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of [post-deprivation procedures], can satisfy the 12 requirements of procedural due process.
- Delashaw v. Roberts, No. 2:18-cv-01850 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 21, 2020).([E]ither the necessity of quick action by 10 the State or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of [post-deprivation procedures], can satisfy the 1…)
- Delashaw v. Roberts, No. 2:18-cv-01850 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 7, 2020).([E]ither the necessity of quick action by 10 the State or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when 11 coupled with the availability of [post-deprivation procedures], can satisfy the 1…)
Other citing cases
- Homes & Hope Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles, 93 Cal. App. 5th 1074 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023).published
- Brenizer v. Ray, 915 F. Supp. 176 (C.D. Cal. 1996).published
- Thiess v. City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, No. 1:17-cv-02261 (D. Colo. Sept. 19, 2019).
v.
Wayne MORGAN, individually Mike Taulier, individually Gordon M. Dewers, individually and each in their official capacities as officers of the County of Stanislaus, Stanislaus County Air Pollution Control District
Plaintiffs Soranno’s Gaseo, Incorporated, and Leonard and Dianna Soranno brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the County of Stanislaus and its Air Pollution Control District, Air Pollution Control Officer Gordon Dewers, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer Wayne Morgan and Air Pollution Control Specialist Mike Taulier. The plaintiffs contend that the defendants suspended Gasco’s petroleum bulk plant permits and discouraged its customers from doing business with Gaseo in retaliation for Mr. Soranno’s exercise of constitutionally protected rights and in violation of due process. The district court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, holding that the plaintiffs failed to establish that they were deprived of a protected interest, and that even if such a deprivation occurred, available post-deprivation remedies were sufficient to comport with due process. The plaintiffs timely appeal. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.
I.
FACTS
Leonard and Dianna Soranno, husband and wife, are the officers and sole shareholders of Soranno’s Gaseo, Incorporated (“Gaseo”). Gaseo is engaged in the business of selling and distributing petroleum products in central California. Gaseo owns two petroleum bulk plants in Ceres, California which are operated under permits issued by the County of Stanislaus and the Stanislaus County Air Pollution Control District (“APCD”). Gaseo has over three hundred wholesale, commercial and industrial bulk customers. Gaseo also owns a chain of twelve retail gasoline stations.
Beginning in 1979, the APCD and the County promulgated regulations pertaining to the use of vapor recovery devices. These devices are designed to reduce the escape of hydrocarbon vapors into the atmosphere. Under the regulations, Gaseo was required to install vapor recovery devices at its bulk plants and its retail stations.
Mr. Soranno publicly criticized the APCD and the County with respect to various aspects of the vapor recovery regulations. His actions included the institution of public hearings before the County Board of Supervisors to protest certain exemptions from the regulations granted to some local businesses. Soranno also initiated litigation challenging the vapor recovery regulations, and exemptions granted under them.
In September of 1983, the APCD requested that Gaseo and Soranno furnish information concerning “bob-tail,” or partial load, delivery by Gaseo during 1982. This request was refused on the basis that it was an improper attempt to subvert the discovery processes available in an ongoing civil proceeding.[1]
On December 2, 1983, the APCD again demanded the “bob-tail” information, and advised Soranno that if he did not comply, his bulk plant permits would be suspended. On December 14, 1983, the APCD suspended the permits under the authority of California Health & Safety Code §§ 42303 and 42304.[2]
[*1313] On December 29, 1983, defendant Morgan directed defendant Taulier to send a letter to Gasco’s customers informing them that Gasco’s bulk plant permits were suspended and that Gaseo could not lawfully deliver gasoline while under suspension. The letter also informed them that their own permits might be subject to suspension if they continued to receive gasoline from Gaseo. Plaintiffs contend that these letters were false because Gaseo could still lawfully deliver gasoline to its customers. Plaintiffs also contend that Gaseo lost business as a result of the December 29 notices.
On December 29, the same day that the customer notices were mailed, Gasco’s counsel informed Morgan and Taulier that he would provide the “bob-tail” information requested on December 2. Approximately fifteen days later, the APCD reinstated the bulk plant permits.
The Sorannos, individually and on behalf of Gaseo, filed this action on December 30, 1983. They allege that the defendants, acting under color of state law, deprived them of various constitutional rights by suspending their bulk plant permits and notifying their customers of the suspension. The plaintiffs advance two theories. First, they contend that the defendants’ acts deprived them of property and liberty without due process. Second, the plaintiffs contend that the defendants’ acts were motivated by a desire to retaliate against Soranno for the constitutionally protected acts of publicly criticizing the defendants and initiating litigation against them. The plaintiffs seek damages for loss of business profits, and for mental and emotional distress caused by defendants’ conduct, as well as an injunction against further violation of their constitutional rights.
On September 12, 1986, the defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. Argument on the motions was held on October 20, 1986. On May 5, 1987, the district court issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants. The district court held that Gaseo had no protected property interest in preservation of the bulk plant permits. The court also concluded that the alleged injury to the Sorannos’ business reputation was not a constitutionally protected liberty interest. Thus, it found no constitutional deprivation to give rise to section 1983 liability.
Alternatively, the district court held that, assuming plaintiffs had been deprived of a constitutionally protected interest, available post-deprivation remedies, including reinstatement of the permit and review of the suspension decision, were sufficient to comport with due process. The plaintiffs timely appeal. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review de novo a district court’s grant of summary judgment. Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir.1989). We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party; we may affirm only if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. We may affirm a grant of summary judgment on any ground supported by the record before the district court at the time of the ruling. Jewel Cos. v. Pay Less Drug Stores Northwest, Inc., 741 F.2d 1555, 1564-65 (9th Cir.1984).
III.
DISCUSSION
A. The Retaliation Claim
“To make out a cause of action under section 1983, plaintiffs must plead that (1)[*1314] the defendants acting under color of state law (2) deprived plaintiffs of rights secured by the Constitution or federal statutes.” Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334, 1338 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1054, 107 S.Ct. 928, 93 L.Ed.2d 979 (1987). The district court concluded that plaintiffs had no constitutionally protected property interest in the permits and, accordingly, that no protected property or liberty interest was implicated by their suspension or the notification mailed to Gaseo customers.
However, the plaintiffs have alleged throughout this case that the defendants’ suspension of Gasco’s bulk use permits was motivated by a desire to retaliate against Soranno for his public criticism of the defendants. It is clear that “[s]tate action designed to retaliate against and chill political expression strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.” Gibson, 781 F.2d at 1338. There is no dispute that Soranno has a protected interest in commenting on the actions of government officials. See New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 269-70, 84 S.Ct. 710, 720, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964); McKinley v. City of Eloy, 705 F.2d 1110, 1113 (9th Cir.1983) (protected interest in criticizing public officials regarding matters of public concern). If the plaintiffs can establish that the decision to suspend the permits was made because of Soranno's exercise of constitutionally protected rights, they have established a first amendment violation, and are entitled to relief under section 1983. Gibson, 781 F.2d at 1338. The Sorannos therefore need not establish a legally protected interest in the permits themselves. See Mt. Healthy City School Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 283-84, 97 S.Ct. 568, 574, 50 L.Ed.2d 471 (1977).[3]
A similar analysis applies to the plaintiffs’ claim that the permit suspension was in retaliation for filing suit against the defendants. The right of access to the courts is subsumed under the first amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances. See, e.g., California Motor Transp. Co. v. Trucking Unltd., 404 U.S. 508, 510, 92 S.Ct. 609, 611, 30 L.Ed.2d 642 (1972); Harrison v. Spring-dale Water & Sewer Comm’n, 780 F.2d 1422, 1427-28 (8th Cir.1986). Deliberate retaliation by state actors against an individual’s exercise of this right is actionable under section 1983. Franco v. Kelly, 854 F.2d 584, 589 (2d Cir.1988) (intentional obstruction of the right to seek redress “is precisely the sort of oppression that ... section 1983 [is] intended to remedy”) (quoting Morello v. James, 810 F.2d 344, 347 (2d Cir.1987) (brackets in original)); Harrison, 780 F.2d at 1428.
The defendants do not dispute that the allegations of retaliatory action are independent of the due process claims, and that the district court failed to address the former in granting summary judgment. However, they contend that the district court’s decision must nevertheless be upheld on the basis that their actions were not motivated by retaliatory intent. In other words, they argue that the plaintiffs cannot meet the causation standard enunciated by the Court in Mt. Healthy, 429 U.S. at 285-87, 97 S.Ct. at 575-76.
In Mt. Healthy, the Court held that a plaintiff alleging retaliation for the exercise of constitutionally protected rights must initially show that the protected conduct was a “substantial” or “motivating” factor in the defendant’s decision. 429 U.S. at 287, 97 S.Ct. at 576. At that point, the burden shifts to the defendant to establish that it would have reached the same decision even in the absence of the protected conduct. Id. According to the defendants, APCD was entitled by statute to the information requested, and was similarly entitled to suspend the Gaseo permits for not providing that information. Thus, they conclude that they could have suspended the permits and notified Gasco’s customers[*1315] in the absence of any protected conduct. In consequence, they argue, Gaseo is entitled to no relief.
The defendants misperceive the import of the Mt. Healthy causation analysis. The rationale for the rule was stated as follows:
A rule of causation which focuses solely on whether protected conduct played a part, “substantial” or otherwise, in a decision not to rehire, could place an employee in a better position as a result of the exercise of constitutionally protected conduct than he would have occupied had he done nothing. The difficulty with the rule enunciated by the District Court is that it would require reinstatement in cases where a dramatic and perhaps abrasive incident is inevitably on the minds of those responsible for the decision to rehire, and does indeed play a part in that decision — even if the same decision would have been reached had the incident not occurred.
429 U.S. at 285, 97 S.Ct. at 575. (emphasis added). The Mt. Healthy test requires defendants to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they would have reached the same decision in the absence of the protected conduct. The defendants here have merely established that they could have suspended the permits. This court has clearly stated that this is insufficient to support summary judgment. Allen v. Scribner, 812 F.2d 426, 435 (9th Cir.), amended, 828 F.2d 1445 (9th Cir.1987).
Allen involved a suit by a California Department of Food and Agriculture entomologist challenging his superiors’ decision to transfer him to a clerical assignment. The plaintiff alleged that the transfer was part of a campaign to harass him in retaliation for publicly airing opinions critical of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Eradication Project’s handling of the medfly infestation problem in California in 1980. He argued that the defendants’ actions violated his civil rights under section 1983 and the first amendment.
The district court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, but we reversed. After concluding that Allen’s expression was protected, and that the evidence indicated that the protected expression was a substantial factor in his transfer and harassment, we addressed whether Allen would have been transferred in the absence of his protected conduct. The defendants argued that Allen’s insubordination was sufficient to justify his transfer. We responded:
The evidence put forth by the defendants is definitive only in establishing that Allen could have been transferred ... because of his non-protected activity (i.e., his refusal to obey orders), and not that he would have been transferred.... That Allen’s insubordinate conduct might have justified an adverse employment decision, including a transfer, does not suffice. The employee in Mt. Healthy was a nontenured high school teacher who “could have been discharged for no reason whatever.” Yet the case was remanded so that the district court might determine whether the teacher would have been discharged.
812 F.2d at 435 (emphasis in original) (citations omitted). See also Schwartzman v. Valenzuela, 846 F.2d 1209, 1212 (9th Cir.1988). Noting that motivation generally presents a jury question, 812 F.2d at 436, we concluded that whether Allen would have been transferred was a genuine issue of material fact inappropriate for summary judgment, and remanded for the trier of fact to make that determination.
Allen controls this case. The defendants apparently do not dispute that Soranno’s activities, which he alleges induced the retaliation, were protected by the first amendment. Viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the evidence suggests that Soranno’s protected expression was a substantial factor in the decision to suspend the permits and notify Gasco’s customers of that suspension. The plaintiffs offer several facts from which a fact finder could infer a retaliatory motive. First, in his deposition, Soranno described a telephone conversation between himself and defendant Morgan in which Morgan allegedly intimated that he would “somehow get even” with Soranno for embarrassing him by generating publicity over[*1316] the vapor recovery device regulations and exceptions.
In addition, the timing and nature of the suspension and notice are suspicious. The 1983 permits were suspended in December, just a few weeks before they were to expire. As a condition for granting 1984 permits, the defendants could have requested updated information of a similar nature, or initiated revocation proceedings,[4] but chose to summarily suspend the 1983 permits instead. The plaintiffs contend that a fact finder could infer that the defendants’ chosen course of action was designed to maximize harm to Soranno.
Similarly, the defendants mailed a notice of suspension to a number of Gasco’s customers on the date that Soranno’s attorney was scheduled to meet with defendant Morgan and supply the requested information.[5] Again, this arguably suggests a desire to maximize the harm inflicted upon Soranno, rather than a concern with receiving the requested information.
The defendants’ response is merely to emphasize that suspension of the permit was authorized by statute and legally permissible. In other words they could have suspended the permits even in the absence of the protected activity. However, they have not established that they would have suspended the permits in the absence of Soranno’s protected activity. As in Allen, the potential section 1983 liability depends upon the defendants’ motivation. This is a genuine issue of material fact, Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), and is therefore inappropriate for summary judgment.
B. Due Process
In addition to arguing that the defendants’ allegedly retaliatory permit suspension and customer notification violated Sor-anno’s first amendment rights, the plaintiffs claim that the defendants deprived them of liberty and property without due process. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants on this issue, holding that the plaintiffs had not been deprived of any constitutionally protected interest, and alternatively, that available post-deprivation procedures satisfied the requirements of due process.
(1) Protected Interest
The procedural due process guarantees of the fourteenth amendment apply only when a constitutionally protected liberty or property interest is at stake. Board of Regents v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 569, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 2705, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972). The district court held that the plaintiffs had no protected interest in uninterrupted permits, and that under Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S. 693, 710-12, 96 S.Ct. 1155, 1165-66, 47 L.Ed.2d 405 (1976), the alleged injury to business reputation alone was insufficient to establish a protected liberty interest. However, the district court did not directly address the plaintiffs’ interest in the goodwill of their business. The goodwill of one’s business is a property interest entitled to protection; the owner cannot be deprived of it without due process.
We look to independent sources such as state law to define the dimensions of protected property interests. Paul, 424 U.S. at 710-12, 96 S.Ct. at 1165-66. California recognizes business goodwill as a property interest. Section 14102 of the California Business and Professions Code states that “[t]he good will of a business is property and is transferable.” Cal Bus & Prof. Code § 14102 (West 1987). See also Baker v. Pratt, 176 Cal.App.3d 370, 381, 222 Cal.Rptr. 253, 259 (1986) (“The law makes no distinction between goodwill and other property with respect to the right of the owner thereof to recover damages for its impairment or destruction.”). Thus, for example, damage to goodwill is recoverable in[*1317] an eminent domain proceeding. People ex rel. Dept. of Transp. v. Muller, 36 Cal.3d 263, 203 Cal.Rptr. 772, 681 P.2d 1340 (1984). Similar protection afforded business goodwill under Florida law has been deemed sufficient to give rise to due process protection. See Marrero v. City of Hialeah, 625 F.2d 499, 514-15 (5th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 913, 101 S.Ct. 1353, 67 L.Ed.2d 337 (1981).
(2) The Process Due
Due process generally includes an opportunity for some type of hearing before the deprivation of a protected property interest. Memphis Light, Gas & Water Div. v. Craft, 436 U.S. 1, 19, 98 S.Ct. 1554, 1565, 56 L.Ed.2d 30 (1978); Sinaloa Lake Owners Ass’n v. City of Simi Valley, 864 F.2d 1475, 1481-82 (9th Cir.1989), amended, (March 23, 1989). However, there are exceptions to the pre-deprivation hearing requirement. The Supreme Court has stated that “either the necessity of quick action by the State or the impracticality of providing any meaningful predeprivation process, when coupled with the availability of [post-deprivation procedures], can satisfy the requirements of procedural due process.” Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 539, 101 5.Ct. 1908, 1915, 68 L.Ed.2d 420 (1981). In Parratt the Court concluded that where a deprivation of property is the “result of a random and unauthorized act by a state employee,” id. at 541, 101 S.Ct. at 1916, meaningful predeprivation process is not possible, and that due process requirements may therefore be satisfied by adequate post-deprivation procedures for obtaining a remedy.
Citing Parratt, the district court held that even if the plaintiffs’ interests were of constitutional dimension, plaintiffs were not deprived of those interests without due process because available post-deprivation remedies satisfied the requirements of due process. The district court viewed this case as controlled by Parratt because the plaintiffs’ allegations of unlawful retaliation rendered the challenged conduct “random and unauthorized” within the meaning of Parratt, making a meaningful pre-deprivation remedy impractical. We reject the district court’s conclusion that the defendants’ actions were the type of “random and unauthorized” deprivation for which pre-deprivation process is impractical. Nevertheless, we affirm the judgment in favor of the defendants on the procedural due process claim on the basis that the public interest in swift administrative action justifies summary suspension with post-deprivation hearings.
The district court construed the “random and unauthorized” language of Parratt too broadly. Parratt is limited to situations “in which the state administrative machinery did not and could not have learned of the deprivation until after it had occurred.” Piatt v. MacDougall, 773 F.2d 1032, 1036 (9th Cir.1985) (en banc); see also Merritt v. Mackey, 827 F.2d 1368, 1372 (9th Cir.1987). That is not the case here. Although retaliatory intent may render the defendants’ conduct unauthorized, it is not random in that the injury is sufficiently predictable to make a pre-deprivation remedy practicable. The decision to suspend the permits and notify Gasco’s customers was a deliberate decision made by the officials possessing the authority to suspend permits at their discretion. See Merritt, 827 F.2d at 1372. Defendant Morgan testified that this decision was made after considering a range of possible alternatives.[6]
[*1318] However, the “random and unauthorized” deprivation is only one of two situations outlined in Parratt in which post-deprivation process may be adequate. It is well-settled that protection of the public interest can justify an immediate seizure of property without a prior hearing. See, e.g., North American Cold Storage Co. v. City of Chicago, 211 U.S. 306, 29 S.Ct. 101, 53 L.Ed. 195 (1908) (state may seize and destroy unwholesome food without pre-sei-zure hearing); see also United States v. An Article of Device “Theramatic”, 715 F.2d 1339 (9th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1025, 104 S.Ct. 1281, 79 L.Ed.2d 685 (1984) (governmental seizure of “misbrand-ed” machine under Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act without prior notice or hearing did not violate due process). We have also applied that principle in holding that a physician is not entitled to a pre-deprivation hearing before suspension from Medicare, and publication of that suspension in a local newspaper. Cassim v. Bowen, 824 F.2d 791, 797 (9th Cir.1987). Because we view this case as the type of situation in which there is a necessity for quick action to protect the public interest, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment for the defendants on the procedural due process claim. See, e.g., Smith v. Block, 784 F.2d 993, 996 n. 4 (9th Cir.1986) (the court of appeals may affirm a district court’s decision on any ground supported by the record).
The APCD’s power to suspend permits immediately is necessitated by the state’s interest in enforcing its pollution control laws. The California legislature has determined that swift administrative action may be necessary in order to protect the public health and safety from violations of the state’s pollution control regulations. We are not in a position to second-guess that legislative determination. We reject Gas-co’s argument that due process was violated because no immediate threat to public health was involved in this particular situation. To paraphrase the Supreme Court in Hodel v. Virginia Surface Mining & Reclamation Ass’n, 452 U.S. 264, 302, 101 S.Ct. 2352, 2373, 69 L.Ed.2d 1 (1981), the relevant inquiry is not whether a suspension should have been issued in this particular case, but whether the statutory procedure itself is incapable of affording due process. Given the public interest in ongoing enforcement of pollution control regulations, the statutory procedure authorizing prompt post-deprivation hearings is sufficient to afford bulk plant permit owners due process.
C. Standing
The defendants also contend that the district court’s decision can be affirmed on the ground that the individual plaintiffs lack standing to assert their claim. The defendants’ argument appears to be derived from the well-established doctrine that a shareholder lacks standing to bring a section 1983 action on behalf of the corporation in which he owns shares. Erlich v. Glasner, 418 F.2d 226, 228 (9th Cir.1969). Similarly, it is not sufficient for the plaintiff to assert a personal economic injury resulting from a wrong to the corporation. Shell Petroleum, N.V. v. Graves, 709 F.2d 593, 595 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 1012, 104 S.Ct. 537, 78 L.Ed.2d 717 (1983). However, a shareholder does have standing where he or she has been injured directly and independently of the corporation. Id. In this case, there are direct and independent injuries to the individual plaintiffs.
This case is brought both by Gaseo and by the Sorannos as individuals, and the complaint alleges violations of the rights of both Gaseo and the Sorannos (particularly Mr. Soranno). Two separate personal injuries to the individual plaintiffs are alleged. First, the plaintiffs’ argument that the defendants’ actions were taken in retaliation for Soranno’s exercise of first amendment rights clearly alleges a direct and independent personal wrong. The first amend[*1319]ment rights that were allegedly violated belong to Mr. Soranno, not the corporation. Mr. Soranno clearly has standing to contest the deprivation of those rights.
Second, the individual plaintiffs complain that they have suffered mental and emotional distress as a result of the defendants’ actions. The fact that these injuries arose from the same conduct as the corporate injuries does not preclude a finding of direct and independent injury to individual plaintiffs for standing purposes. This circuit has held that the same conduct can result in both corporate and individual injuries. Gomez v. Aleman Bros. Hosp., 698 F.2d 1019, 1021 (9th Cir.1983); Marshall v. Kleppe, 637 F.2d 1217, 1222 (9th Cir.1980).
In Gomez, the court held that the “humiliation and embarrassment” suffered by plaintiff as a result of the defendants’ alleged discrimination against him was a personal injury, distinct from that suffered by his professional corporation. 698 F.2d at 1021. Similarly, in Marshall the court held that plaintiffs ulcer and emotional distress which resulted from defendant’s denial of his minority business loan authorization were separate personal injuries. 637 F.2d at 1222.
The Sorannos’ allegation of emotional distress arising from APCD’s customer notification procedure would appear to fall within the rationale of Gomez and Marshall. The defendants’ argument that Gomez is distinguishable because the defendants’ discriminatory intent in that case was clear is unpersuasive. The intent of the defendants in this case is the very issue in dispute, and at this point the court must view the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs.
D. Qualified Immunity
The defendants assert qualified immunity as another alternative ground for affirming the district court’s decision. Government officials performing discretionary functions have qualified immunity from personal liability to the extent that “their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 2738, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). The defendants contend that because they merely followed the existing law and procedure for suspension of permits, they are entitled to summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity. That is not the case.
Assuming, as we must, the truth of the plaintiffs’ allegation of retaliation, the defendants are not entitled to summary judgment on the qualified immunity issue. It could hardly be disputed that at the time of the permit suspension an individual had a clearly established right to be free of intentional retaliation by government officials based upon that individual’s constitutionally protected expression. See, e.g., Allen, 812 F.2d at 436 (material issue of fact regarding whether defendants’ actions were based on retaliatory motive precluded summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds). Cf. Tribble v. Gardner, 860 F.2d 321 (9th Cir.1988) (where sufficient evidence existed to suggest that defendants’ strip-search was for punitive purposes, district court did not err in denying defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity).[7]
E. Eleventh Amendment
The defendants also claim that the official-capacity suit is barred by the eleventh amendment.[8] A suit against state officials that seeks the payment of retroactive money damages to be paid from the state treasury is barred by the eleventh amendment. Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S.[*1320] 651, 675-78, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 1362-63, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974); Blaylock v. Schwinden, 862 F.2d 1352, 1353 (9th Cir.1988). Thus, if the APCD can be characterized as a state entity, the plaintiffs cannot pursue a claim for money damages from the defendants in their official capacities. The critical factor in determining whether the eleventh amendment is applicable is the financial nexus between the APCD and the state treasury. Edelman, 415 U.S. at 663-65, 94 S.Ct. at 1355-57.
On the record before us, we are unable to determine whether an award of damages against an APCD would be paid from the state treasury. The parties may develop a more adequate record on remand.
IV.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment for the defendants on the plaintiffs’ due process claims. Because there are genuine issues of material fact regarding the defendants’ retaliatory motivation, and because we are unable to affirm the district court on the alternative grounds urged by the defendants on appeal, we reverse the grant of summary judgment on the first amendment claims and remand to the district court for further proceedings.
AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART and REMANDED.
In March of 1983, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office filed an action in state court seeking civil penalties against Gaseo. The suit alleged, inter alia, that Gaseo violated APCD rules by failing to provide information regarding operation of Gasco’s bulk plants in 1982. According to an affidavit filed by Gaseo corporate counsel Walter J. Schmidt, the information requested by the APCD in September of 1983 was inappropriate outside of discovery to be conducted in the state civil suit.
Section 42303 provides:
An air pollution control officer, at any time, may require from an applicant for, or the holder of, any permit provided for by the regulations of the district board, such information, analyses, plans, or specifications which will dis-[*1313]elóse the nature, extent, quantity, or degree of air contaminants which are, or may be, discharged by the source for which the permit was issued or applied. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 42303 (West 1986).
Section 42304 provides:
If, within a reasonable time, the holder of any permit issued by a district board willfully fails and refuses to furnish the information, analy-ses, plans, or specifications requested by the district air pollution control officer, such officer may suspend the permit. Such officer shall serve notice in writing of such suspension and the reasons therefor on the permitee. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 42304 (West 1986).
In Mt. Healthy, the Supreme Court held that an untenured teacher whose contract was not renewed could establish a claim for reinstatement for violation of his constitutional rights if he could establish that the decision not to reinstate him was made by reason of his expression of ideas. The fact that he had no protected property interest in continued employment was not dispositive because his firing, if retaliatory, effectively deprived him of his constitutionally protected right to free speech. 429 U.S. at 283-84, 97 S.Ct. at 574.
Morgan's deposition testimony indicates that revocation could not have been effected without a prior hearing. See Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 42307-09 (West 1986).
There is apparently some dispute over whether Morgan was aware of Soranno’s intention to supply the requested information when the notification letters were sent. Attorney Walter Schmidt’s affidavit indicates that Morgan was informed of the purpose of Schmidt’s visit before the letters were sent.
Moreover, the defendants’ contention throughout this litigation has been that all of their actions were authorized by the California Health and Safety Code and Comity regulations. It is clear that once the decision to suspend the permit is made, state law expressly provides for post-deprivation hearings. See e.g., Cal.Health & Safety Code §§ 42304, 42306 (West 1986) (authorizing pre-hearing permit suspensions and providing for prompt post-deprivation hearings). Similarly, the defendants contend that the customer notification was consistent with the relevant regulations. Thus, this case is analogous to Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 436, 102 S.Ct. 1148, 1158, 71 L.Ed.2d 265 (1982), in which the Court held that the Illinois Fair Employment Commission’s negligent failure to schedule plaintiffs conference within 120 days as required by statute, resulting in loss of plaintiffs claim, was not "random and unauthorized" within the meaning of Parratt. In the Court’s view, the deprivation was effected by the 120-day statutory limitation, rather than[*1318] the conduct of the state employees. As in Logan, the plaintiffs’ property interest is impaired by operation of California law, which authorizes pre-hearing suspension and customer notification.
The same analysis applies to the plaintiffs’ judicial access claim.
The plaintiffs sued the defendants both in their individual and official capacities. An official-capacity suit is, of course, merely an alternative means of pleading an action against the governmental entity of which the individual is an agent. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 3104, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985).