Philly Man Says Lack of Political Support for Boss Cost His Job

Former employee Ian L. Ewing sued the City of Philadelphia and John P. Sabatina, the city’s current register of wills, in federal court for violating his First Amendment rights.

Ewing claims he was unlawfully retaliated against when he was terminated from his job at the Register of Wills Office because he declined to support Sabatina’s campaign in 2023 to be elected register of wills.

Sabatina violated Ewing’s free speech rights under the First Amendment, which protects public employees from being fired for their political affiliations, the complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleges. ...