Helvey then brought this action against Maple Leaf and its principal shareholder, Paul Thomas (private defendants), and against the City, city manager Martin Corcoran, and three unidentified city employees (city defendants). She alleged that three weeks before her discharge Corcoran had demanded that Thomas fire her from Maple Leaf because of her testimony. Further, Corcoran allegedly told Thomas that he should replace Helvey with a man and threatened to otherwise shut down the bar or revoke its liquor license. Helvey contended that the defendants' conduct violated
42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Count I) by violating her rights to free speech, due process, equal protection, and equal privileges and immunities, and that the conduct also violated
42 U.S.C. § 1985 (Count II). Helvey also asserted state tort claims of unlawful civil conspiracy (Count III) and tortious interference with a business expectancy (Count IV).