Indiana firefighter sues City of Evansville, alleging he was fired over off-duty immigration comments
Key points
- The former lieutenant filed suit on Nov. 5, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against the City of Evansville
- The suit alleges he was fired on May 26, 2026 over off-duty social media comments on immigration
- The seven counts include First Amendment retaliation, ADA, failure to accommodate and FMLA; allegations are unproven
A former Evansville, Indiana fire lieutenant filed a federal suit on Nov. 5, 2026 against the City of Evansville, alleging he was fired on May 26, 2026 over off-duty social media comments on immigration. The seven counts include First Amendment retaliation, ADA discrimination, failure to accommodate and FMLA violations. He alleges others who posted about ICE received only coaching; the city cited a prior 2024 reprimand. These are the plaintiff's allegations and have not been proven. Not legal advice.
What employers should do
- Review whether social media policies for off-duty speech comply with First Amendment and anti-retaliation rules
- Keep consistent records and standards for how similar conduct cases are handled
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Federal (U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana)
- Status
- Enforcement action
- Effective date
- —
- Employers covered
- City of Evansville
- Official source
- Official source pending
Original report: Human Resources Director ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.