Overview
- County commissioners approved agreements totaling a little more than $3 million and the sheriff issued a written expression of regret for the role his office played in the search warrants.
- Settlement documents allocate about $1.5 million to publisher Eric Meyer, $650,000 to former council member Ruth Herbel, $600,000 to reporter Phyllis Zorn, and $250,000 to reporter Deb Gruver, with most costs covered by insurance.
- The estate of co-owner Joan Meyer, who died the day after the raid, is to receive $1 million as part of the resolution described in filings reported by the Associated Press.
- The county is released from further civil liability, while claims against the City of Marion continue, and sheriff’s officials agreed to sit for interviews that could inform the remaining litigation.
- Two special prosecutors previously found the newsroom and targets committed no crimes and said the warrants were based on inaccurate information; former police chief Gideon Cody faces a February trial on a felony interference charge.