Libs of Settlements

[Libs of Settlements @libs_settlement]

$835,000

Larry Bushart, a former police officer from Tennessee, was awarded $835,000 after being jailed for 37 days over a social media meme.

In Sept 2025, following Kirk’s assassination, Bushart posted a meme on Facebook quoting Trump’s response to a school shooting at Perry High School in Iowa: "We have to get over it."

On Sept 22, he was arrested and charged with making "threats of mass violence on school property"

Sheriff Nick Weems, who directed the arrest, claimed Bushart posted the meme "to indicate or make the audience think it was referencing our Perry High School" in Tennessee even though he and his investigators knew from the start that the meme referred to the 2024 Perry High School shooting in Iowa, not the local school.

He also said it caused "mass hysteria" as parents, teachers and students believed it referred to a "hypothetical shooting" at the local school but he did not present evidence to support those claims.

Bushart’s bond was set at a staggering $2 million and he spent 37 days in jail.

In Oct 2025, Perry County released him from jail following nationwide outrage and media scrutiny. He lost his post-retirement job and missed both his wedding anniversary and the birth of his grandchild.

He later teamed up with @TheFIREOrg and sued the sheriff, the investigator, and the county for violating his First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

On May 14, 2026, the parties settled the case for $835,000. "I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated," said Larry Bushart.

[Libs of Settlements @libs_settlement]

@CDS949 https://t.co/IBDxFAKdXC

[Libs of Settlements @libs_settlement]

$485,000

Brittney Brown, a skilled biologist who worked for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for about 7 years, was awarded nearly half a million dollars after being fired over a social media post.

On Sept 10, 2025, while on vacation, she reposted a satirical post about whales feeling indifferent to Kirk's assassination on her private Instagram story.

On Sept 14, accounts including @LibsOfTikTok and @EricLDaugh reposted a screenshot of the story to their large audiences. The post quickly went viral, leading to calls for Brown’s termination. Within 24 hours, FWC fired her.

Brown sued the agency on Sept 30, arguing that her First Amendment rights had been violated. In her lawsuit, she stated that the post "didn’t condone Mr. Kirk’s killing nor does it call for further violence."

In May 2026, the parties reached a settlement under which Brown was awarded $485,000 and agreed not to seek reemployment with FWC.

Her case is not the only one involving the agency. Two other employees who were fired over posts related to Kirk’s murder have also sued FWC, claiming their speech was protected under the First Amendment.

[Libs of Settlements @libs_settlement]

@TomG61356162 She made the comment on a friend’s private FB post, during her personal time (meaning: outside of work)

[Libs of Settlements @libs_settlement]

Tamar Shirinian, a former assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, could receive $1.9 million in settlement.

After Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, Shirinian made a crass Facebook comment on a friend’s private post during her personal time.

Later, figures like @robbystarbuck, @tedcruz and others shared the facebook screenshots and rallied their followers into making more than 100 calls and emails to the university demanding she be fired.

She later deleted the comment and apologized in a letter to the chancellor. She called her words "ineloquent and heartless", said the post was "insensitive" and condemned political violence while insisting she did not endorse it

The university officially fired her in Feb 2026, choosing not to protect her free speech.

Tamar sued the university, claimed her First Amendment rights were violated and she is set to receive $1.9 million.

[This You? @Thiss_Youu]

Just started a new account, Libs of Settlements (@libs_settlement), an account dedicated to posting news about settlement payouts resulting from cancellations driven by large accounts.

Initially, the focus will be on Charlie Kirk related firings but over time, it will cover settlement cases involving people across the political spectrum.

Please check it out. Thanks! :)