Brooklyn Park Council Member’s Lawsuit Against Colleagues Dismissed
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Brooklyn Park Council Member Maria Tran against several of her colleagues.
In the suit, Tran accused the mayor and four current or former council members of defamation, as well as allegedly violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act, open meeting law and Tran’s First Amendment rights.
Tran filed the court case amid her belief that there was a conspiracy against her, including a plot to kill or harm her at city hall.
Hennepin County District Court Judge Bridget Sullivan tossed out the lawsuit with prejudice on Monday, Nov. 10, capping off a nearly year-long legal drama. The case had previously been scheduled to go to trial early in January 2026.
Tran — who was previously censured by the council — filed the lawsuit after some members publicly asked her to consider consulting a mental health professional.
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston, as well as council members Christian Eriksen, Nichole Klonowski and Tony McGarvey were named in the lawsuit as individuals and in their capacity as council members.
XP Lee, a former council member who was recently elected to succeed state Rep. Melissa Hortman after her assassination, was also named in the lawsuit.
Tense Atmosphere
The lawsuit was preceded by a period of tense council meetings dating back as far as 2023.
Tran, who at one point told CCX News she faced “intimidation and disrespect” while on the council, referred to some of her colleagues as “bullies.”
“They all bully, you know?” Tran said during an Aug. 28 council meeting. “Right here in the chamber. This is not the first time. Purposefully. Men with no balls … and no education either. Very low, low, low.”
Hostile Workplace Complaint
In January 2024, Tran made critical comments about a Brooklyn Park city staff member.
He filed a hostile workplace complaint, which was followed by a third-party investigation. That investigation found Tran had violated the council’s code of conduct.
Tran disagreed, and later accused the staff member of using drugs on city property.
She also reported him to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center for improper use of city funds. The investigation was referred to the Plymouth Police Department, which found no evidence of financial crimes in the case.
“Tran, however, alleges the Plymouth Police Department is also part of the sinister conspiracy against her, going so far as to make the wild accusation the investigating officer was impersonating the FBI and attempting to scam her,” court documents read.
The council censured Tran for her conduct in June 2024.
Brooklyn Park City Council Member Maria Tran takes the oath of office in 2023. A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed she filed against several of her colleagues.
Other Accusations
Later that summer, she accused Council Member Eriksen of slashing her tires and threatening to punch her in the face. Police found no evidence of the accusations, which Eriksen said were false.
Court documents show that Tran also had a falling out with Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley, who she initially asked to escort her to council meetings.
“One evening, Council Member Eriksen asked to speak to Chief Bruley right after a council meeting about a city issue,” court documents read. “After several minutes, Chief Bruley observed Tran appeared to be mad because she dislikes Council Member Eriksen and has identified him as an attacker and an abuser.”
Tran began attending meetings remotely and attempted to obtain a gun for protection against her council colleagues.
“After learning Tran wanted to purchase a gun, Chief Bruley was alarmed and concerned,” court documents read. “He attempted to follow-up with Tran about her conversation with [a police sergeant], but she would not return Chief Bruley’s calls or texts. Nor would she answer the door when he went to her home. Tran did not apply for a gun permit after she was informed that she must provide her address in the application.”
Bruley publicly told the city council about the incident.
She then filed a Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board complaint against him, which was dismissed.
In October 2024, the council approved a public letter to Tran asking her to seek a mental health evaluation.
Judge’s Decision
Tran claimed the council defamed her when it asked her to seek a mental health evaluation.
The judge in the case wrote that the council’s letter was protected speech under the First Amendment.
Likewise, Tran’s claim that the city of Brooklyn Park violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act was tossed out because she is not an employee of the city.
Claims related to violations of open meeting law and Tran’s First Amendment rights also failed to meet legal muster, according to the judge.
Editor’s note: this story was updated Nov. 17 to correct the spelling of Council Member Christian Eriksen’s name.
