---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2025

Civil Rights Groups Sue City of Medford for Targeting Public Health Workers and Retaliating Against Harm Reduction Activists

MEDFORD, OR — Attorneys with LeDuc Montgomery LLC and the Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the nonprofit organization Stabbin’ Wagon, its founder Melissa Jones, and former staff member Samantha Strong, alleging that the City of Medford and Medford Police Department engaged in a years-long campaign of unlawful retaliation, targeted surveillance, and politically motivated interference with public health outreach.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division, the complaint asserts that City and police officials violated Plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as Oregon law. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages for unconstitutional retaliation, defamation, interference with state grant funding, and other retaliatory conduct stemming from their work with unhoused and drug-using populations in Jackson County.

“This case is about a city government using its power to silence dissent, punish advocacy, and sabotage vital public health work,” said Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, lead attorney for Plaintiffs. “Our clients serve people who are often stigmatized and excluded. Rather than protect those rights, Medford targeted the advocates.”

The complaint details how Stabbin’ Wagon, a harm reduction nonprofit founded in 2020, came under increasing scrutiny and retaliation as it gained prominence for its evidence-based public health outreach and public criticism of law enforcement practices. Plaintiffs allege that the Medford Police Department and City officials retaliated by:

• Targeting Plaintiffs for harassment and selective enforcement;
• Lobbying the Oregon Health Authority to rescind a $1.5 million state grant;
• Unlawfully monitoring and storing data about Plaintiffs’ social media and protest activity;
• Disseminating false and disparaging information to discredit the organization;
• Working with politically aligned nonprofits and social media actors to undermine Stabbin’ Wagon’s public standing.

“Police do not get to dictate the politics of a community in a democracy. By targeting activists

who disagree with policing and jail as a solution to drug addiction and homelessness, the police

and former police in political office attempted to silence and punish an alternative viewpoint in Medford. Medford police and government officials dramatically overstepped lawful boundaries and must be reined back in so that others are not illegally targeted and harassed for their constitutionally protected opinions and actions.” said Marianne Dugan, attorney with the Civil Liberties Defense Center.

The lawsuit alleges that Medford officials violated federal civil rights laws by conspiring to suppress the political and legal rights of Stabbin’ Wagon and its clients. The claims include First Amendment retaliation, conspiracy to violate civil rights, intentional interference with economic relations, and false light.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Alicia LeDuc Montgomery (LeDuc Montgomery LLC) and Marianne Dugan (CLDC).

The ACLU of Oregon and Bradley Bernstein Sands previously filed a separate lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court. alleging illegal police surveillance of Plaintiffs and other organizations by Medford Police, in violation of Oregon state law. That case is ongoing.

The full complaint is available upon request.

For press inquiries or interview requests, contact:

LeDuc Montgomery LLC

Email: alicia@leducmontgomery.com | Phone: (704) 702-6934 www.leducmontgomery.com

Civil Liberties Defense Center

Email: mdugan@cldc.org | Phone: (541) 687-9180 www.cldc.org