Post Falls woman files tort claim with Kootenai County clerk over town hall removal

An Idaho woman filed a notice of tort claim Monday with the Kootenai County clerk saying county officials and others violated her constitutional rights when she was removed from a town hall meeting in February.

“Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,” Teresa Borrenpohl said in a press release.

The tort claim says Borrenpohl is seeking damages of at least $5 million.

Wendy Olson, an attorney for Borrenpohl, said the tort claim "is the first step in the civil legal system for pursuing justice for Teresa and holding Lear Asset Management and Sheriff Norris responsible for the disturbing events that happened at the town hall event.

“We have put the county on notice that its public officials intentionally obstructed Teresa’s constitutional rights and physically assaulted her in the process," Olson said in the release.

The release said three private security officers, at the direction of Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, removed Borrenpohl from the meeting "after she voiced a dissenting opinion" at the town hall with legislators Feb. 22.

"After failing to remove her, Norris directed three men in plainclothes to forcibly remove Borrenpohl from the meeting," the release said. "Despite asking them to stop and to identify themselves, the three men, who Borrenpohl later learned were private security, continued to violently drag her out of the venue."

According to the tort claim, "Borrenpohl was fearful for her safety throughout the time the men assaulted her. Because the men were unidentified, because Sheriff Norris directed them to physically remove her, and because of the manner in which they dragged her from the auditorium, Ms. Borrenpohl feared that she was being kidnapped."

It goes on to state Borrenpohl "suffered pain, scratches, bruising and emotional distress as a result of Sheriff Norris’ actions and the actions of the unidentified men. Her clothing was damaged, and she was intentionally and willfully manhandled in a manner that harmed her dignity and reputation, causing her personal humiliation."

The tort claim also states that although other persons in the audience made loud statements during the legislative town hall, "no other person was physically grabbed and removed from the auditorium in the same manner prior to the unidentified men dragging her from the auditorium."

Borrenpohl said since the incident, she has received an outpouring of support from people across the country, for which she is grateful. 

"Along with words of comfort and sympathy, folks have described similar acts of aggression in their own neighborhoods, reinforcing to me the importance of demanding accountability in my own case," Borrenpohl said.

The incident led to a police investigation into Lear Asset Management and several of its employees, which resulted in criminal charges against six men. Coeur d’Alene city officials also revoked the private security firm’s license.

Paul Trouette, Russell Dunne, Christofer Berg and Jesse Jones, all of whom are associated with the security firm Lear Asset Management, are charged with the misdemeanor crimes of battery and false imprisonment. The five men and Alex Trouette were also cited for security agent uniform violations and security agent duties violations. 

Post Falls resident Michael Keller is also charged with battery, a misdemeanor. 

According to the tort claim, "Borrenpohl estimates that Sheriff Norris, Kootenai County, Brent Regan, and others who acted in concert with them are liable for at least $5 million, plus costs and attorney’s fees."

Regan is chair of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, which organized the town hall.

Norris and Kootenai County commissioners declined to comment.