Also known as: grievances · grieve · grieves · grieved · grieving · labor complaint · union complaint
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A constitutional guarantee protecting citizens' ability to seek redress from the government for perceived wrongs. The guarantee forms part of the First Amendment and bars laws that abridge the right to petition. Courts apply the guarantee when evaluating claims that government action retaliates against or burdens such petitions.
Georgia Gibbs circulates a petition urging Congress to investigate federal land-use policies that she believes harm her community. When federal agents threaten to prosecute her for the petition drive, she sues. The court holds that the First Amendment protects her right to petition and bars the threatened prosecution.
Gabriel Gonzalez sues the Environmental Protection Agency claiming that lax enforcement of pollution rules violates federal law. He alleges only that the agency fails to follow the statute and that all citizens suffer equally from the violation. The court dismisses the suit because the asserted injury constitutes a generalized grievance insufficient for Article III standing.
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Gloria Green, an assistant district attorney, circulates a petition among colleagues protesting a proposed transfer policy. Her supervisor fires her for the petition. The court upholds the termination because the petition addressed only internal personnel matters rather than a public concern and therefore receives minimal First Amendment protection.
Glenn Gross, a prospective resident, joins a challenge to a village zoning decision that blocks construction of affordable housing near his workplace. The court finds that his injury is particularized because success in the suit would create a substantial probability that the housing project will proceed, satisfying standing requirements.
Giselle Guerrero submits a petition to a government agency containing statements about a public official that later prove false. The official sues for defamation. The court applies the actual-malice standard because the statements were made in a petition to the government and therefore receive First Amendment protection unless actual malice is shown.
Gordon Gray, a shareholder, sues a corporation alleging securities violations. The corporation moves to strike his jury demand. The court notes that the historical right to jury trial traces in part to colonial grievances over denial of jury trials and therefore preserves the right in the present action.
No. A public employee's petition that concerns only internal office matters such as personnel disputes receives minimal First Amendment protection. Courts give substantial deference to an employer's assessment of workplace disruption when the petition does not address a matter of public concern.
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No. Generalized grievances shared equally by all citizens do not satisfy Article III standing even when Congress authorizes citizen suits. Plaintiffs must still show a concrete and particularized injury.
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The actual-malice standard from New York Times v. Sullivan applies. A person who makes defamatory statements in a petition may be held liable only if the statements were made with actual malice.
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…advertisement in the sense in which the word was used in Chrestensen. It communicated information, expressed opinion, recited grievances, protested claimed abuses, and sought financial support on behalf of a movement whose existence and objectives are matters of the highest public interest and concern. See N. A. A. C. P. v.…