The underlying case alleged that Chicago's Board of Education disciplined Diadenko, a special education teacher, in retaliation for her drafting a letter to the Chicago Mayor that was critical of the Board's special education program, in violation of section 1983.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that Diadenko failed to present evidence that the contents of her letter played role in issuance of discipline, where: (1) the first suspension occurred prior to date letter was drafted; and (2) plaintiff failed to show that the relevant decision-maker was aware of letter at time the second suspension was issued.