Haddle v. Garrison, 525 U.S. 121, 2 (1998)

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122

HADDLE v. GARRISON

Opinion of the Court

ignore this tradition here. To the extent that the terms "injured in his person or property" refer to such tort principles, there is ample support for the Court's holding. Pp. 124-127.

132 F. 3d 46, reversed and remanded.

Rehnquist, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.

Charles C. Stebbins III argued the cause and filed briefs for petitioner.

Matthew D. Roberts argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal. With him on the brief were Solicitor General Waxman, Acting Assistant Attorney General Lee, Deputy Solicitor General Underwood, David K. Flynn, and Timothy J. Moran.

Phillip A. Bradley argued the cause for respondents. With him on the briefs for respondents Garrison et al. were Barry J. Armstrong and David E. Hudson. J. Patrick Claiborne and Terrance P. Leiden filed a brief for respondent Molloy.*

Chief Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the Court.

Petitioner Michael A. Haddle, an at-will employee, alleges that respondents conspired to have him fired from his job in retaliation for obeying a federal grand jury subpoena and to deter him from testifying at a federal criminal trial. We hold that such interference with at-will employment may give rise to a claim for damages under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, Rev. Stat. § 1980, 42 U. S. C. § 1985(2).

According to petitioner's complaint, a federal grand jury indictment in March 1995 charged petitioner's employer,

*Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law by George W. Jones, Jr., Jacqueline Gerson Cooper, Daniel F. Kolb, Norman Redlich, Barbara R. Arn-wine, Thomas J. Henderson, Richard T. Seymour, and Teresa A. Ferrante; for the National Employment Lawyers Association et al. by Mark Allen Kleiman and Paula A. Brantner; and for the National Whistleblower Center by Stephen M. Kohn.

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