MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle agrees to pay $10,000 settlement in lawsuit over Cal Anderson homeless sweep

Feb 18, 2021, 3:55 PM

Cal Anderson Park, sweep...

A sweep of the homeless encampment at Cal Anderson Park on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. (Jason Rantz/KTTH)

(Jason Rantz/KTTH)

The City of Seattle has agreed to pay a $10,000 settlement to a woman who had filed a lawsuit over a December sweep of a homeless encampment in Cal Anderson Park.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court by Ada Yeager, had initially asked U.S. District Judge Richard Jones to file a preliminary injunction to halt the sweep. Jones denied that request, but the litigation continued on, culminating this week in the city’s agreed upon settlement.

Seattle Parks & Recreation had posted notices about the planned December sweep 48 hours in advance. That led to a sizable defense effort from protesters in support of the homeless individuals camped out in the park, KIRO Radio reporter Hanna Scott explained, asking for materials, old furniture, boards, and whatever they could get to build barricades. They were prepared to stop the city from taking people out of the park.

After months of protests, sweeps, Seattle reopens Cal Anderson Park

Police eventually arrested 24 people during the sweep for charges ranging from misdemeanor trespass to failure to disperse.

Yeager’s lawsuit centered around the seizure of property during the sweep belonging to her and others who were camped in Cal Anderson Park. Possessions collected by the city during sweeps often fail to make their way back to their original owners, despite the city’s standing policy to safely store those items.

According to a report from the Seattle Times, the city ultimately decided to pay out the $10,000 settlement to Yeager “to avoid the time and expense of further litigation.”

The December sweep marked the third time Seattle had cleared homeless campers out of Cal Anderson Park in 2020, with a pair of sweeps taking place in the late-summer months. At the two prior sweeps, police officers were met by a group of protesters, and campers and aid tables returned to the park soon after police left the area. The park had been officially closed for six months prior to the city’s final sweep in mid-December.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

9 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

10 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

11 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

12 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

13 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

16 hours ago

Seattle agrees to pay $10,000 settlement in lawsuit over Cal Anderson homeless sweep