SPOKANE, Wash – Former Spokane mayor and longtime local news anchor Nadine Woodward wants the city to pay her $10 million for the fallout over a prayer service appearance in 2023.
Woodward filed an amended tort claim with the city in mid-April, raising the dollar amount from a previous claim from $1.5 million to $10 million.
The claim stems from a prayer service event in August 2023.
Woodward appeared on stage for the Let Us Worship event, headlined by controversial pastor Sean Feucht.
It also featured former Washington legislator Matt Shea.
Shea had been the subject of an investigation that determined he had engaged in domestic terrorism and posed a growing threat of political violence.
During the event, Shea blessed Woodward and the two even hugged as she walked off stage.
The actions drew criticism, including from the Spokane City Council.
The council passed a resolution denouncing Woodward’s actions.
Woodward lost her bid to remain as Spokane mayor several weeks later.
Her claim also names as defendants the then-council members who voted for the resolution condemning her actions: Betsy Wilkerson, Lori Kinnear, Karen Stratton and Zack Zappone.
Woodward says the city and the council members violated her constitutional rights with that resolution that that the actions “irreparably damaged and continues to damage Woodward in her professional and personal reputation.”
The claim says the city’s action “resulted in harassment..by the media, estrangement from her social group, supporters and neighbors, and loss of business and professional opportunities.”
She said the resolution was an abuse of legislative power.
‘A scarlet letter’
In the claim, Woodward asserts that the city’s actions “imposed a scarlet letter on [her], which took over the election cycle.”
“The legislative action required [Woodward] to divert all available resources and time to defending and defusing character assassination.”
The claim says Woodward “continues to suffer ongoing injury, including vitriol, backlash and threats, all of which has caused [Woodward] fear of physical harm.”
Woodward says the city violated her First Amendment rights, citing participation in prayer is protected.
In her claim, she asks the court to declare the resolution unconstitutional, direct that it be vacated and award her “damages caused by this unconstitutional government action.”
Woodward filed an initial claim in July 2024. Her attorney writes that the City did not respond, the resolution remains in effect and “actual damages and punitive damages… are now requested.”
Before becoming mayor, Woodward was a news anchor at 4 News Now and KREM-TV.
Woodward most recently has been working as a real estate agent in Spokane Valley.
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