Former Elgin City Administrator, Wife Sue City and Mayor for $3 Million

A $3 million lawsuit filed by former Elgin City Administrator Brock Eckstein and his wife, Laura Eckstein, against the city, Mayor S. James Johnson, and City Administrator Alex McHaddad landed in Union County Circuit Court in February, opening a legal fight that runs through more than a decade of Elgin's administrative history.

The city responded with a special motion to strike, seeking to dismiss the majority of the Ecksteins' claims under Oregon's anti-SLAPP statute, a law that provides protection from lawsuits targeting public participation. Union County Circuit Court Judge Jared Boyd will hear the matter on April 13.

Brock Eckstein's history with Elgin City Hall stretches back to 2014, when he began a seven-year run as city administrator. He resigned in early 2021, citing the high stress of the position and a desire to grow his municipal consulting practice, but the break did not last. Within a few months, Eckstein returned on a temporary part-time basis after his successor resigned due to health concerns, and he continued as pro-tem administrator until 2024. The city hired McHaddad in April 2024, and Eckstein remained on contract through June of that year to help with the transition.

Laura Eckstein, an attorney who runs her own practice, carries her own local government history into the case: she previously served as municipal judge for the City of Elgin.

The city's position includes the contention that Brock Eckstein used a city credit card for $25,000 in personal expenses. The Ecksteins have not addressed that allegation publicly.

Ryan Adams with Silverton-based Fir Law Group represents the Ecksteins. Attorneys Roman Hernandez and Jared Ahern with Portland-based Cable Huston represent the city, Johnson, and McHaddad.