Support Dr. Rebecca Scofield

UPDATE: July 2024

In June, the judge granted the motion for partial summary judgment, ruling that the defendant had defamed Dr. Scofield and granted the motion to add punitive damages. As requested, damages will be determined by a jury in a damages trial, which we hope will be scheduled soon.

Next, the University of Idaho chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, the Idaho Federation of Teachers, and the national legal aid committee with the American Federation of Teachers have all moved forward with contributions to Dr. Scofield's legal fees, providing a significant amount of financial support. Thank you to these incredible organizations for standing with their union member!

Given this recent news, we are pausing donations from GoFundMe at this time.

Dr. Scofield and her family would like to thank everyone for the immense generosity and kindness they have shared. Every contribution has made a difference, and the outpouring of support and understanding has been incredible.

We hope to continue to update this page as the case progresses. Thank you all!

UPDATE: April 2024

Thank you, everyone, for your generosity and support! We wanted to update you to let you know there is a hearing set for oral arguments for both the motion for summary judgment and the motion to add punitive damages on April 16th, 2024. We will continue to update you as the case moves forward. Thank you again.

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Support Dr. Rebecca Scofield

Over the past six months, our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Rebecca Scofield, has been relentlessly and persistently targeted by a TikTok user who is making false claims linking her to the November murders of four University of Idaho students. Her case, like many others, shows how easily and quickly anyone can become the target of online abuse from the spread of unfounded accusations.

In November 2022, her attorneys sent two cease and desist notices in an attempt to end the harmful statements and protect Dr. Scofield, her husband, and two young children. The TikTok user mocked these attempts. Thus, in December 2022, Dr. Scofield filed a federal defamation lawsuit to fight these unwarranted online attacks. Despite her attempts to resolve the case quickly, her legal fees have far outpaced her resources. As her lawyers estimate it could be another year before the case is resolved, it will cost a substantial amount of money to continue to contest these baseless claims and address counterclaims. Throughout the case, the TikTok user has continued to make new false statements.

Online rumors and suppositions can ruin innocent people’s lives, causing emotional distress, loss of reputation, and significant financial damage. Defamation lawsuits are necessary to deter these attacks. Unfortunately, without additional support, Dr. Scofield may be forced to drop the case in order to protect her family's financial well-being.

Dr. Scofield is a dedicated member of the University of Idaho faculty and a beloved member of the Moscow community. Dr. Scofield’s goal continues to be to resolve the suit and end the spread of false online statements as quickly as possible. Any donation to help support her and her family will be deeply appreciated.

Any excess funds will be donated to the scholarship funds set up in the victims' names at the University of Idaho.

For more about the case, see these articles from: