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Homeless Plaintiffs Suing LA Say City Should Be Found In Contempt Of Court
A homeless encampment on Skid Row, June 30, 2019. (James Bernal/KPCC)
A group of homeless Angelenos argue in a new federal court filing that the city of Los Angeles should be found in contempt of court for resuming encampment cleanups in violation of a federal court order issued in April.
That injunction, issued by Judge Dale Fischer, barred L.A. from enforcing certain city laws allowing the removal of “bulky items” like mattresses and dog cages, which are often the personal property of homeless people.
A group of homeless plaintiffs argued in a lawsuit filed last year that the removal of their property violates their constitutional rights under the 4th and 14th Amendments.
In late July, the L.A. City Council voted to resume clearing homeless encampments in areas surrounding “A Bridge Home” temporary homeless shelters. Since then, the group claims several cleanups in the city have resulted in personal property being taken away without notice, in violation of the April injunction.
In the motion, the plaintiffs argue for the federal court to intervene. The hearing date will come by mid-September.
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