Mich. Mayor Blacklists Those Who Sued City

FLINT, Mich. -- Mayor Don Williamson is taking a novel tack in fighting lawsuits -- he's withholding city business from anyone who has sued Flint within the past five years.

Williamson said the Jan. 21 policy is in the taxpayers' best interests. In recent years, the city faced a multimillion-dollar deficit that prompted the state to declare a financial emergency.

"Who in the world would want to do business if you're sued by 'em?" Williamson said.

But Greg Gibbs, chairman of the Greater Flint branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he would go to federal court to have the policy declared unconstitutional.

"That's just a reckless, retaliatory action (against) people who exercise their rights to go to court," Gibbs said. "It's reactionary. It's extreme."

The city attorney's office would not immediately release a list of people or businesses the policy would affect.

Employees who violate the policy face discipline, including a 30-day suspension or firing.

City attorney Trachelle Young said the policy is constitutional because it doesn't limit a person's First Amendment right to petition the government.

But Robert Sedler, a Wayne State University law professor, predicted the policy would not survive a constitutional challenge.

Williamson has issued unusual directives before. Last year, an executive order barred city workers from having non-work-related reading material on city property during their work hours.

He later relaxed the ban to allow newspapers during employee breaks after police temporarily detained a newspaper carrier trying to deliver subscriptions to City Hall.

A recall petition claiming Williamson was trying to "take away our freedom of speech" stalled last year when the county election commission ruled the petition language was too vague.

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City of Flint: http://www.cityofflint.com
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