On May 5, 2010, three journalists who were arrested during the 2008 National Republican Convention filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota against the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Woodbury, as well as several police officers and officials.  The plaintiffs, represented by private and public interest firms, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, brought claims under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, the Federal Tort Claims Act, and state law, and asked the court for injunctive relief, a declaration of fault, and damages. Plaintiffs claimed defendants violated freedom of the press, committed unlawful searches and seizures, and engaged in common law false arrest, assault, and negligence.

Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed their arrest and detention, while documenting public protests and police activity in their capacity as members of the press, were without probable cause and were conducted with excessive force.  

On October 7, 2010, plaintiffs amended their complaint to name previously unnamed individual defendants.

On November 8, 2010, defendant John Doe, an unidentified Secret Service Agent, filed a motion to dismiss based on qualified immunity.  On May 31, 2011, the District Court (Judge Susan R. Nelson) denied the motion in part and delayed ruling in part to allow for discovery.

The parties reached a settlement on September 29, 2011.  The settlement is confidential and under seal.  The parties jointly filed a Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice on January 19, 2012, and on January 24, 2012, the Court approved the settlement terms and dismissed the action with prejudice.

David Postel - 10/20/2013


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