Kansas Town Settles with Reporter Over Newspaper Raid

A Kansas town has agreed to settle a lawsuit with a former reporter from its local newspaper for $850,000. The reporter, Phyllis Zorn, argued that a 2023 police raid on the newspaper’s offices violated press freedoms and constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. Zorn, recently retired, claimed the raid led to severe health issues, including the return of previously controlled seizures.

The lawsuit’s dismissal was part of a joint statement filed by Zorn’s lawyer, Randy Rathbun, and Jennifer Hill, an attorney for the city of Marion. The statement marked the third anniversary of the controversial raid, which had sparked national outrage. The legal action involved raids on the newspaper’s offices and the homes of Publisher Eric Meyer and a former City Council member.

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody had asserted that the newspaper might have committed crimes by accessing a restaurant owner’s driving record. However, authorities evaluating the raid found it was not legally justifiable. Meyer and Zorn believed the actions were retaliatory to the newspaper’s investigative reporting, especially regarding Cody’s law enforcement history.

In memory of Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the Marion County Record, a tribute was placed outside the newspaper’s offices. Joan Meyer passed away a day after the raid, and her son Eric Meyer attributed her death to the stress of the incident.

The Marion County government settled several related lawsuits for over $3 million in total, including $600,000 to Zorn, addressing claims against its officials. Although some legal claims have been resolved, others persist, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for October 15.

Following an investigation into the raid, questions arose about Cody’s actions. He faced a felony obstruction of justice charge, accused of convincing a witness to suppress information. Cody pleaded not guilty, and the trial has been postponed.