Palm Bay council votes to settle Langevin lawsuit for $55K in fees
The Palm Bay City Council agreed to a $55,000 settlement with Councilman Chandler Langevin, resolving a lawsuit stemming from his censure over anti-immigrant social media posts.Summary
The Palm Bay City Council voted to settle a lawsuit filed by Councilman Chandler Langevin for $55,000, to be paid to his attorney, Anthony Sabatini. Langevin sued the city after being censured for social media posts disparaging immigrants from India, claiming the censure violated his First Amendment rights. The censure limited his participation in council meetings, requiring majority consensus for agenda items and restricting his speaking opportunities. While neither side admitted wrongdoing, the settlement will permanently close the federal case. Mayor Rob Medina emphasized the importance of serving all people and rejecting hate, noting potential economic harm to the city due to Langevin’s comments, with at least one company halting investment plans. The council had previously sought Governor Ron DeSantis’s intervention to remove Langevin from office, and also cited concerns over a letter he sent advocating for the pardon of a man with ties to white supremacist groups.
(Source：Florida Today)