The national NAACP is suing 13 former leaders of its Boulder County branch, accusing them of defying its authority in an effort to dissolve the branch, take control of its assets and spread misleading information about the civil rights organization.
The complaint, filed June 16 in U.S. District Court, brings four claims: breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, civil theft and civil conspiracy.
The lawsuit is the latest escalation in a high-profile power struggle between the national office and leaders of the Boulder branch. Several of the defendants have been outspoken critics of city leadership, particularly the appointment of Police Chief Steve Redfearn last year. Their monthslong public criticism contributed to a chain of events that included a complaint from the city manager, an attempt by the executive committee to dissolve the branch, and ultimately, the suspension of all committee members.
In 2024, Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde filed a complaint with the national NAACP alleging unethical conduct by three members of the executive committee for recording a heated mediation session between city officials and branch leadership, and threatening to release it if Redfearn were appointed.
Partially in response, the national office appointed an administrator to oversee the branch and directed local leaders to stop making what it called “unsubstantiated and inflammatory statements” about city officials. Branch leaders said the demands echoed the city’s alleged efforts to silence them and limited their ability to advocate.
Named in the lawsuit are Darren O’Connor, a civil rights attorney and former criminal justice chair of the Boulder branch. Earlier this year, O’Connor filed his own lawsuit against the City of Boulder, alleging city officials retaliated against him for speaking out against Redfearn. Former branch president Annett James and former vice president Jude Landsman are also among the defendants, along with 10 others.
In March, Boulder branch leaders announced they were dissolving the branch, citing what its leaders described as ongoing retaliation from city officials. But the national NAACP said the branch had no authority to take that action. All executive members supported the dissolution, according to previous reporting by Boulder Reporting Lab, but it remains unclear how much of the broader membership was informed or involved. The branch has about 500 members and has appeared divided over how — or whether — to move forward.
“Audaciously, Defendants filed articles of dissolution not once but twice after express directives from the National Office to abstain from doing so,” the complaint states. “Defendants acted in blatant disregard of National Office directives and their duties as officers. In the process, they caused reputational and, on information and belief, economic harm to NAACP.”
The complaint accuses the former leaders of attempting to liquidate the branch’s assets, which included about $77,000 in a bank account and $25,000 in Google stock, according to the lawsuit.
The organization’s articles of dissolution, filed by a former branch member with the Colorado Secretary of State on March 26, stated that the branch “shall distribute all of its remaining cash and all of its assets and property to any entity of its choosing.” The national NAACP said the former treasurer has refused to relinquish control of those assets despite repeated requests.
The national organization is seeking an injunction to prevent the disposal of the funds and a court ruling affirming that the Boulder branch remains intact under the national office.
James, O’Connor and Landsman declined to comment on the lawsuit or the status of the organization’s assets. The defendants will be able to file a response in court.