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Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn filed a federal lawsuit against Marion, Kansas, and several local officials over a police raid on the newspaper’s offices and the home of its publisher, Eric Meyer, in August 2023. Zorn seeks $950,000 in damages, alleging a violation of her constitutional rights to freedom of the press and protection from unreasonable searches. The raid, led by then-Marion Chief Gideon Cody, was purportedly related to an investigation into the newspaper’s access to a local restaurant owner’s driving record, but Zorn claims it was retaliation for prior investigations into Cody’s background.
The incident sparked a national debate over press freedom and led to Cody’s resignation in October. Tragically, Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, who lived with him, passed away the day after the raid, which Meyer attributes to the stress caused by the incident. Zorn’s lawsuit alleges seizures, depression, and anxiety stemming from the raid, which her attorney, Randy Rathbun, condemns for departing from appropriate protocol.
Officials involved in the raid have not responded to requests for comment, and Marion City Attorney Brian Bina stated that he had not seen the lawsuit. He mentioned that the city’s insurance company typically handles such matters, highlighting the significant amount sought by Zorn, exceeding the city’s annual property tax revenue. Zorn’s lawsuit asserts the legality of her actions in obtaining and verifying the state document in question. It implicates Cody, the interim police chief, the sheriff, the former mayor, and the county commission in orchestrating the raid, alleging a failure in civil rights training within the sheriff’s department.
The lawsuit underscores the importance of upholding constitutional rights, particularly in the context of press freedom and law enforcement conduct.
