In June 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and pro bono partners filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of journalists targeted and attacked by law enforcement while covering protests after the police murder of George Floyd. In 2021, the lawsuit was expanded to include journalists attacked while covering the protests after the police murder of Daunte Wright. Now, after more than five years, this lawsuit has been finalized.
On September 12th, journalists represented by the ACLU-MN, Fredrikson & Byron, Reed Smith, and Kevin Riach finalized a settlement for $650,000 with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office over attacks on reporters during the George Floyd and Daunte Wright protests. The settlement also resolves a separate state court lawsuit filed by Fredrikson & Byron, Reed Smith, and Kevin Riach on behalf of Tim Evans against the deputy who attacked him while he was covering the Daunte Wright protests.
"A free press is a structural pillar of our democracy—enshrined in the First Amendment to expose injustice, demand transparency, safeguard against tyranny and give us the information needed to shape our own futures,” said ACLU-MN Legal Director Teresa Nelson. “When journalists are targeted and attacked by police, it is a direct attack on democratic values and must be met with accountability and reform. It has been a privilege to work with this brave group of journalists to do just that."
“This case should stand as a testament to the fact that law enforcement can and must be held accountable when it targets members of the press with detention, arrest, and violence for the sole purpose of preventing them from doing their constitutionally-protected jobs of observing and reporting on protests, and the response of law enforcement to them,” said attorney Edward Schwartz. “When government officials fail to do their jobs by holding rogue officers accountable for their assaults on the press and the First Amendment, the victims must stand up for themselves to protect their rights. It was an honor to represent the members of this press who chose to do so in this case, and I hope this settlement brings them some sense of vindication and justice.”
“The press occupy a unique place in our constitutional democracy and they must be permitted to report truthfully without fear of retribution,” said attorney Pari McGarraugh. “Holding law enforcement accountable when they fall short is necessary to protect the public good of accurate journalism.”
Plaintiffs
- Jared Goyette
- Craig Lassig
- The Communications Workers of America
- Tannen Maury
- Katie Nelson
- Stephen Maturen
- Ed Ou
- Timothy Evans
- Chris Tuite
Legal Partners
- Karen Schanfield, Pari McGarraugh, Rachel Dougherty, and Erik Money from Fredrikson & Byron
- Kevin Riach from the Law Office of Kevin Riach
- Ed Schwartz, Rick Robinson, Allie Hussey, Anthony Todd, and Kevin Hara from Reed Smith
- Apollo Law LLC
- Blake Shepard and Mark Thieroff from Siegel Brill
Timeline
June 2020: ACLU-MN and partners sue the city of Minneapolis, the heads of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota State Patrol, and other officials.
April 2021: law enforcement attack journalists covering the Daunte Wright protests. Plaintiffs obtain a temporary restraining order against the Minnesota State Patrol and agencies acting in concert with them to prevent further targeting of journalists covering protests.
September 2021: The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, which joined the attacks on journalists covering the Daunte Wright protests, is added to the lawsuit.
October 2021: The April 2021 TRO is converted to a preliminary injunction for the remainder of the case.
February 2022: Journalists represented by the ACLU-MN and partners reach a settlement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Minnesota State Patrol. The Settlement with MSP includes $825,000 for journalist plaintiffs, entry of a monitored injunction that includes most elements of the preliminary injunction, plus numerous policy changes to prevent future assaults.
April 2023: Journalists represented by the ACLU-MN and partners reach a settlement with former MPD union head Lt. Bob Kroll that keeps him off the beat for 10 years. He agrees to not serve for a decade in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka Counties, or with the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.
February 2024: Journalists represented by the ACLU-MN and pro bono attorneys have won a nearly $1 million settlement from the city of Minneapolis over police attacks on reporters during the George Floyd protests.
September 2025: Journalists represented by the ACLU-MN and pro bono partners finalized a settlement for $650,000 with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.