Trendpills
Marion County, Kansas, has agreed to a $3 million settlement and will issue a formal apology to resolve a federal lawsuit over a police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper in August 2023. The incident drew international condemnation and raised significant concerns about press freedom in the United States.
The settlement compensates the newspaper's editor and publisher, Eric Meyer, reporter Phyllis Zorn, and the estate of Meyer's 98-year-old mother, Joan Meyer. The raid, which involved the seizure of computers, cell phones, and reporting materials from the newspaper’s office and the publisher's home, was initiated as part of an investigation into alleged identity theft. The case centered on how the newspaper obtained information about a local restaurateur’s driving record.
The day after the controversial raid on the small-town newspaper, co-owner Joan Meyer collapsed and died. Her son has consistently attributed her death to the stress and shock of having her home searched by law enforcement. Her death amplified the outrage against the county's actions.
Press freedom advocates, legal experts, and news organizations across the country argued that the search violated the First Amendment and the federal Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which provides special protections for journalists and newsrooms from such searches. Following the backlash, the county attorney withdrew the search warrants and all seized materials were returned to the newspaper. The agreement, as reported by the Associated Press, stipulates that the county will issue an apology expressing regret and acknowledging the raid's negative impact on the journalists.
Under the terms of the agreement, Eric Meyer will receive $1.75 million, Zorn will receive $750,000, and Joan Meyer's estate will receive $500,000. While the settlement brings a financial conclusion to the dispute, Eric Meyer has stated that it does not undo the damage caused or bring his mother back. The settlement concludes a chapter in a case that has become a prominent symbol of the fight to protect journalistic freedom from government overreach.
