Marion County Record publisher files lawsuit against city for ‘threatening democracy’

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Eric Meyer, publisher and editor of the Marion County Record, whose offices were raided by police last August, filed a lawsuit Monday against the City of Marion and several officials.

The lawsuit alleges the raid, in which police seized the newspaper’s electronics potentially containing the records of a local restaurant owner, was an “intolerable violation of ... constitutional rights.” The lawsuit also blames the raid for the death of Meyer’s mother Joan, the owner of the newspaper, who died from cardiac arrest at 98 the day after the raid.

Meyer names the City of Marion, former mayor David Mayfield, then-Police Chief Gideon Cody, acting Chief Zach Hudlin, the Marion County Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Jeff Soyez and detective Aaron Christner in the suit. Meyer is seeking more than $5 million personally, on behalf of his mother’s estate, which the lawsuit calls, “wrongful death,” and on behalf of the Record. The suit also seeks $4 million in punitive damages.

Meyer’s is the fourth lawsuit filed in the aftermath of the raid, which also included the resignation of City Administrator Brogan Jones and the suspension of Cody, followed by his own resignation last October. The previous lawsuits were filed by reporters Deb Gruver and Phyllis Zorn, and last week by Cheri Bentz, the newspaper’s office manager.