By Joanna Putman
Police1
BOISE, Idaho — A business owner has filed a lawsuit against an Idaho university, alleging that the closing of her coffee shop on the college campus was a retaliation against her support of the police by using the thin blue line flag, the Idaho Statesman reported.
The lawsuit, which went to trial on Aug. 29, unfolded as Sarah Fendley, former owner of Big City Coffee, took Boise State University to court over the closure of her campus coffee shop, alleging that her support for police led to the termination of her contract, according to the report. The dispute began after Fendley responded to a student’s social media post criticizing the shop’s support for the “thin blue line,” which subsequently sparked a controversy on campus.
Fendley’s attorney, Michael Roe, contended that the university’s actions violated Fendley’s First Amendment rights by penalizing her for her pro-police stance, according to the report. The university has continued to assert its neutrality, with attorneys stating that the shop was not removed because of the use of the flag.
“My client was sacrificed,” Roe said in court. “In October 2020, the defendants forced my client from the Boise State University campus in order to appease a small group of student activists who objected to my client’s support of law enforcement and the Thin Blue Line in particular. That removal violated Sarah Fendley’s First Amendment right to free speech.”
The conflict escalated after a contentious meeting with university administrators, where Fendley was reportedly told that support from the university “was not going to happen,” according to the report. Subsequently, Fendley alleges she was pressured to agree to a statement claiming her departure was mutual, which she refused to do. The coffee shop closed shortly thereafter on October 26, 2020.
The lawsuit also highlights the financial and reputational damages Fendley claims to have suffered, including a significant investment of $125,000 that she has been unable to recoup. While initial counts against the university were dismissed due to sovereign immunity, the remaining aspects of the lawsuit continue, with the trial expected to last three weeks under District Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace, according to the report.
