Marion, Kansas settles reporter lawsuit for $850,000

The city of Marion, Kansas, has agreed to pay $850,000 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by Phyllis Zorn, a former reporter for the Marion County Record. The lawsuit stemmed from an August 2023 police raid on the newspaper’s offices, the home of publisher Eric Meyer, and the residence of a former city council member.

The raids were initiated by then-Police Chief Gideon Cody following an investigation into whether journalists had committed identity theft after accessing a local restaurant owner’s public driving record. However, authorities later determined the raids were not legally justified. Journalists and local officials characterized the actions as retaliation for investigative reporting regarding Cody’s law enforcement background.

In her lawsuit, Zorn alleged that the raid violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and infringed upon press freedoms. She also noted that the incident caused significant personal health issues, including the return of life-threatening seizures. The settlement was announced on the third anniversary of the raids, which had previously drawn national attention to the town and press freedom issues.