Court: Ex-porn star can't hang signs in schools
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- A federal appeals court has ruled against a former porn star turned math tutor, saying he doesn't have a free speech right to hang a sign advertising his tutoring business at three Florida schools.
The Sun Sentinel reports Boca Raton resident David Mech paid $1,750 to advertise his "Happy/Fun Math Tutor" service. Palm Beach County School District officials removed the signs after learning Mech was a porn star who acted under the name Dave Pounder.
The 11th U.S. District Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a lower court's decision that the signs are considered "government speech" not free speech.
The appeals court noted that "schools exercise substantial control over the messages that they convey."
Mech sought a school board seat last year but was defeated by incumbent Karen Brill.