Credit: Rough-N-It Inc/Facebook
A bombshell federal civil rights lawsuit filed in Minnesota accuses St. Louis County officials of waging a years-long, politically motivated campaign to shut down a nonprofit that provides free primitive camping and outdoor therapy to disabled veterans.
The 121-page complaint, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges systemic corruption, disability discrimination, abuse of power, and constitutional violations by county commissioners, planning officials, attorneys, and township leaders who, according to the lawsuit, colluded to block a veteran-focused nonprofit because they simply did not want those veterans on the land.
At the center of the case is Rough-N-It Inc., a nonprofit founded to provide free, non-commercial camping for disabled veterans, many of whom cannot afford resort fees and rely on outdoor therapy as part of their recovery.
According to the lawsuit, county staff repeatedly claimed the project offered “no public benefit,” even after being explicitly informed multiple times that the sole purpose of the land use was to serve disabled veterans.
The complaint alleges officials never conducted the legally required Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) analysis, instead relying on stereotypes and hostility toward veterans with disabilities.
Read the press release below:
Disabled Veterans and Taxpayers Sacrificed as Local Government Abandons Rule of Law, Plaintiffs Say. Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Against St. Louis County and Beatty Township
St. Louis County, MN — December 19, 2026
Today, Rough-N-It Inc., disabled veterans, and landowner Christine Wyrobek filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that St. Louis County and Beatty Township officials weaponized zoning, environmental review, and enforcement powers to shut down a lawful nonprofit camping program for disabled veterans—at the expense of veterans, taxpayers, and the rule of law.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Constitution, and Minnesota law, and describes a multi-year campaign of obstruction, retaliation, and intimidation carried out by county and township staff, planning officials, and elected leaders.
“This case was never about zoning,” said Wyrobek. “It was about power. Disabled veterans were sacrificed to protect personal agendas and institutional pride. When lawful process didn’t produce the outcome officials wanted, they abandoned the law.”
Veterans Used as a Pretext, Then Targeted
Rough-N-It is a nonprofit created to provide free, ordinance-compliant camping and outdoor therapy for disabled veterans—a model specifically designed to eliminate financial barriers that prevent many veterans from accessing traditional camps or resorts.
According to the complaint, county and township officials:
Ignored the veterans-focused mission in official reports
Claimed the program provided “no public benefit”
Relied on disability-based stereotypes to oppose the project
Imposed an illegal environmental review driving up costs and losing time.
Issued years of “potential violation” threats without a single citation
Sustained public narrative portraying Plaintiffs as violators
Despite repeated allegations of wrongdoing, the County ultimately admitted it never found a single enforceable violation.
A Government That No Longer Checks Itself
The lawsuit alleges that St. Louis County has suffered a systemic collapse of separation of powers, where:
Planning staff, the Planning Commission, the County Board, and the County Attorney functioned as a single, self-protective unit
Independent judgment was abandoned in favor of “rubber-stamping”
Officials admitted on the record they acted “as a group”
Enforcement powers were abused through a “pre-crime” resolution authorizing
lawsuits against Wyrobek for hypothetical future conduct
“When no branch of government is willing to check another, citizens lose their rights,” Wyrobek said. “That’s what happened here.”
Taxpayers Left With the Bill
The complaint details how unlawful procedures, sham reviews, and bad-faith mediation cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, burdening both the nonprofit and taxpayers—while delaying services to veterans.
Board members of the nonprofit, including healthcare professionals, were forced to resign after enforcement threats created fear of professional consequences, further chilling lawful civic participation.
Why This Lawsuit Is Necessary
Plaintiffs say they were forced to file after every other avenue failed.
“We didn’t choose litigation,” Wyrobek said. “We were driven to it. Under Minnesota law, there was no way to stop the harassment or obtain judicial review unless the County acted. Instead of issuing a citation, they escalated to extraordinary measures to avoid court oversight.”
What Plaintiffs Seek
The lawsuit asks the federal court to:
Declare the County and Township actions unlawful
Restore lawful use of the property for disabled veterans
Enjoin unconstitutional enforcement practices
Award damages for harm to veterans, taxpayers, and constitutional rights
“The true victims here are disabled veterans who lost access to free therapeutic recreation,
and taxpayers who paid for a broken system defending itself instead of serving the public,”
Wyrobek said.
Erick Kaardal is the plaintiffs’ attorney and can be reached at kaardal@mklaw.com.
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