Raymond F. Gallipo v. City of Rutland, Fire Chief Gerald Lloyd, and Gerald Lancour

Summary

The court affirmed summary judgment against Gallipo's claims that he had a protected property right or implied contractual entitlement to promotion based on seniority, as well as his contract-interference, personnel-regulation, emotional-distress, and constitutional claims. It reversed summary judgment on his religious-discrimination, disability-discrimination, and retaliation claims because the evidence, viewed favorably to him, created genuine factual disputes concerning discriminatory motives and a causal connection between his protected complaint and subsequent employment actions. The court also affirmed denial of Gallipo's motion to disqualify the trial judge. Justice Morse, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would have affirmed dismissal of the religious-discrimination and retaliation claims.