Activist Shaun Porter Files Billion Dollar Lawsuit Alleging Civil Rights Violations and Defamation by County Officials

A lawsuit has been filed in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Washington County, alleging that county officials and the Washington County Board of County Commissioners engaged in a pattern of conduct designed to suppress free speech, defame an individual, and deny him access to public meetings. The complaint, initiated by Shaun Patrick Porter, a private citizen residing in Maryland and conducting business in Washington County, names several county officials, including President of the Board of County Commissioners John Barr, Commissioner Jeffrey Cline, County Attorney Zachary Kieffer, County Administrator Michelle Gordon, Director of Economic Development Jonathan Horowitz, and Clerk of the Board Dawn Marcus, among others. Porter is seeking injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, and substantial damages, claiming violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

The legal action stems from a series of events beginning in June 2024, following Porter’s advocacy for his son, who allegedly suffered neglect due to improper accommodations for being deaf. According to the complaint, Porter began voicing criticism of the defendants at public meetings. The lawsuit details a sequence of actions taken against Porter, including the filing of peace order requests by county officials, which were ultimately denied. It is alleged that the county attorney, Zachary Kieffer, along with assistant county attorney Aaron Weiss, pursued these peace orders, citing the content of Porter’s public comments as grounds. These initial attempts to restrict Porter’s participation in public discourse were unsuccessful when the peace orders were not made permanent by a judge.

Following the denial of the peace orders, the complaint states that John Barr, utilizing county funds and represented by a county-employed attorney, filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Porter. This legal action was reportedly based on a parody yard sign, which Porter maintains is protected political speech. Subsequently, the Board of County Commissioners is alleged to have implemented new rules of decorum that granted the presiding officer sole discretion over citizen speech during public comment periods. These rules also reportedly directed citizens to adhere to extensive online platform guidelines. Porter initially counter-sued as part of that case seeking $104 million, but that counter-suit was dismissed.

Claims of defamation against Porter were dismissed earlier this month, but found liable for inflicting emotional distress against County Commissioner Barr. Porter contends that evidence used to determine liability was improperly submitted. A jury trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026 to determine damages.

The lawsuit further contends that Porter was repeatedly denied entry to public meetings, often under threat of arrest, and was publicly identified as a trespasser by county officials, including John Barr and Jeffrey Cline. These actions, it is alleged, occurred despite a ruling from the Maryland Attorney General’s Open Meetings Act Compliance Board in July 2025, which found that the Washington County Board of County Commissioners had violated Porter’s civil rights by illegally denying him access to public meetings. The complaint asserts that these alleged actions were part of a coordinated effort, a conspiracy, aimed at retaliating against Porter for his protected speech and viewpoint.

“It’s about time the bastards got what’s coming to them,” said Porter when contacted for further details.

Porter is seeking a court order requiring the county to issue disclaimers on past public meeting videos, stating that his removal was illegal and that he committed no crime. He also seeks an order for the county to notify all employees and citizens via email that he has never trespassed or committed a crime at a county meeting, and to make public announcements at the beginning of ten consecutive meetings to the same effect. Additionally, Porter requests a declaratory judgment that his removal from future public meetings was illegal and seeks a permanent injunction against citizens being trespassed from such meetings. The plaintiff is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $1 billion, along with attorney fees and court costs.

Washington County Government has previously stated they will not comment on pending litigation.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from Shaun Porter’s Legal Filing in Washington County Circuit Court C-21-CV-26-000258 and Previous Coverage.

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