Oregon Fire District Sued by Former Employee Alleging Retaliation and Due Process Violations
A former administrative employee of the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District (NOFD) has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging she was terminated after raising concerns about financial practices and recordkeeping within the district.
According to the complaint, Shawna Yost was employed by NOFD from 2015 until her termination on March 18, 2025. She alleges that throughout her tenure she received positive performance evaluations and had no prior disciplinary history.
The complaint alleges that in October 2023, the fire chief informed Yost that he was maintaining two sets of financial records and that the district had exceeded its budget by more than $40,000. Yost claims she refused to participate in maintaining undisclosed records and advised that the over-expenditures be properly reported.
Yost further alleges that she objected to what she believed were falsified reports and the destruction of required state safety records. In January 2025, she met with a division chief to raise compliance concerns related to district finances and recordkeeping.
On February 18, 2025, Yost was placed on administrative leave. The stated reason, according to the complaint, was a discrepancy involving a Tillamook Public Utility District bill. Yost alleges she confirmed with the utility that the bill had been paid. Two days later, her attorney sent the district an electronic preservation letter.
The complaint further alleges that on February 27, 2025, photographs documented changes to Yost’s office and the shredding of documents following her placement on leave.
On March 18, 2025, the NOFD Board of Directors conducted a termination hearing. The Board reviewed a 91-page packet of materials. According to the complaint, anonymous written statements were admitted at the hearing without having been disclosed to Yost in advance. Following the hearing, the Board voted to terminate her employment.
The lawsuit asserts claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for alleged First Amendment retaliation and violations of procedural due process. Yost alleges her objections to undisclosed financial practices and record destruction constituted protected speech on matters of public concern, and that her suspension and termination were motivated by those objections.
She also alleges that the termination process denied her a meaningful opportunity to respond because the Board considered materials, including anonymous statements, without prior disclosure.
In addition, the complaint alleges that after her termination, the chief reported to the State of Oregon that Yost was violent and required restraint. According to the complaint, those statements led to an initial denial of unemployment benefits and she was not afforded a name-clearing hearing.
The lawsuit names the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District, the fire chief, and the division chief as defendants. It alleges that the Board of Directors acted as the final policymaker in approving the termination decision.
