Notice to OSU

NOTICE OF TORT CLAIM PURSUANT TO ORS 30.275

Claimant: Logan M. Isaac

Date of Incident: April 1, 2026 (with related events beginning May 6, 2025)

Dear Ms. Gose:

This letter constitutes formal notice, pursuant to ORS 30.275, that the undersigned, Logan M. Isaac, intends to assert claims for damages against Oregon State University (“OSU”) and the following current or former OSU officers, employees, and/or agents, in whatever capacity each was acting at the relevant times: Interim Chief James Yon (OSU DPS); Officers Chad Beeton and Peter Shobe (OSU Department of Public Safety); William Elfering (Director, Holcomb Center for Military and Veteran Resources); and Nikki Gold (VA work-study employee and/or Student Veterans Association officer).

Time, Place, and Circumstances (so far as currently known to Claimant)

On May 6, 2025, Claimant met with Mr. Elfering at the Holcomb Center regarding OSU's handling of veteran advocacy matters. Upon information and belief, a report or communication concerning that meeting — originating from Mr. Elfering and/or Ms. Gold — was conveyed to OSU DPS. The following day, May 7, 2025, Officer Beeton contacted Claimant by phone regarding a trespass matter. On May 12, 2025, OSU DPS served Claimant’s spouse with Exclusion Notice 2025-082137, citing “University Standard 07-300, Proscribed Conduct,” without further specifying the conduct alleged. Claimant's appeal was denied by a letter from Interim Chief Yon dated May 28, 2025 (not mailed until June 6, 2025), which Claimant contends contains material inaccuracies regarding the events of May 6, 2025. The exclusion order provided for expiration on January 22, 2026.

OSU's own records confirm that the exclusion was never removed from OSU's Records Management System (“RMS”) or the Law Enforcement Data System (“LEDS”) after its January 22, 2026 expiration. On April 1, 2026, relying on this outdated and erroneous record, Officer Beeton detained and arrested Claimant at the Holcomb Center for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, handcuffed him without first removing his backpack, and transported him first to Benton County Jail and then to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for medical clearance. During the arrest, Claimant's phone — which was recording the encounter — fell to the ground; an officer retrieved the phone and the recording was stopped. Approximately three hours after the encounter began, and after Chief Yon (reached by telephone while away from campus) confirmed that the exclusion had in fact expired, Officer Beeton apologized to Claimant, released him from custody without charges or booking, and provided transport to his vehicle. OSU's own incident report, Case 202600281, documents this sequence and lists its disposition as “Unfounded.”

As a result of this arrest, Claimant — a disabled combat veteran with documented VA-rated lumbar spine and shoulder injuries — suffered physical injury, including from being handcuffed without removal of his backpack; has required emergency room treatment on more than one occasion for aggravation of those pre-existing injuries; and has suffered emotional distress, reputational harm, and related damages, in an amount to be further specified as they continue to be documented.

Legal Theories

Claimant intends to pursue claims including, without limitation: unlawful seizure and false arrest under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments (42 U.S.C. § 1983); retaliatory arrest in violation of the First Amendment (42 U.S.C. § 1983); municipal and institutional liability under Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658 (1978), based on OSU's policies, customs, and/or failures in administering exclusion orders and maintaining accurate records; conspiracy to interfere with civil rights (42 U.S.C. § 1985); disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and Oregon state-law claims for false imprisonment, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Preservation Demand

This letter also serves as formal notice and demand to preserve all records, communications, and data related to the foregoing, including without limitation: all body-worn camera and dash-camera footage from April 1, 2026; all RMS and LEDS records and audit/access logs pertaining to Exclusion Order 2025-082137; all internal communications, incident reports, or complaints authored by, or concerning, Mr. Elfering or Ms. Gold relating to the May 6, 2025 meeting; and all metadata associated with Claimant's mobile device recording from April 1, 2026, to the extent any such data is within OSU's possession, custody, or control. Please treat this letter as a litigation hold request, effective immediately, and direct it to all relevant custodians.

Resolution

Claimant is currently self-represented and is in the process of retaining counsel. He would welcome the opportunity to discuss resolution of this matter before litigation is filed. Please direct all correspondence to Claimant at the address above or to [redacted].

This notice is submitted to preserve Claimant's rights under ORS 30.275 and does not constitute a waiver of any claim, theory, or remedy not specifically enumerated herein.

Sincerely,

Br. Logan M. Isaac, HoSM