In Seattle protest lawsuit, bids for sanctions fly

(Reuters) – A lawsuit in Seattle federal court docket over the town’s response to the 2020 protest zone utilized by anti-racism demonstrators has flared up as either side need the choose to punish the opposite for textual content message proof that they are saying is lacking or deleted.

Attorneys at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, representing companies and property house owners who’re suing the town, mentioned in a court docket submitting on Wednesday that metropolis leaders together with the mayor and chiefs of the hearth and police departments deleted textual content messages throughout the litigation.

The agency mentioned the lacking proof will deprive the plaintiffs of “crucial communications” despatched throughout the organized protest zone that lasted a couple of month following the killing of George Floyd on Might 25, 2020, whereas in Minneapolis police custody.

On Thursday, Seattle fired again in its personal bid looking for sanctions, telling the choose that some plaintiffs intentionally deleted their very own messages in regards to the protest. In a submitting, Seattle’s legal professionals mentioned that “whereas the town has gone to nice lengths to resurrect” its staff’ lacking messages, the plaintiffs “have made no such effort.”

The plaintiffs, which embody actual property funding companies and small retail outlets, broadly mentioned of their lawsuit the town infringed on property rights when it allegedly “endorsed” a barricaded protest zone within the fashionable Capitol Hill neighborhood. The grievance seeks damages together with lack of income and property worth.

The attorneys for the plaintiffs requested U.S. District Decide Thomas Zilly in Seattle to think about punishing the town for deleted textual content messages by way of a default judgment on the town’s legal responsibility.

Seattle requested Zilly to bar the flexibility of the plaintiffs to depend on sure communications. Each side are looking for authorized charges.

Representatives from the Seattle mayor’s workplace and metropolis authorized division didn’t instantly touch upon Thursday, and legal professionals for the town didn’t instantly reply to a message looking for remark.

Morgan Lewis companions Patty Eakes and Angelo Calfo, who’re representing the plaintiffs, didn’t instantly reply to a message looking for remark.

Seattle has mentioned in court docket filings that it took “measured, applicable steps to quickly unfolding occasions” in response to the demonstration. The town has argued “the conduct that the plaintiffs complain of is that of personal events who plaintiffs haven’t named on this go well with.”

A jury trial estimated to take as much as three weeks is scheduled for June 2023.

The case is Hunters Capital LLC et al v. Metropolis of Seattle, U.S. District Court docket, Western District of Washington, No. 2:20-cv-00983-TSZ.

For plaintiffs: Patty Eakes and Angelo Calfo of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

For Seattle: Joe Groshong of the Seattle Metropolis Legal professional’s Workplace; Arthur Harrigan Jr. of Harrigan Leyh Farmer & Thomsen

Learn extra:

Seattle police clear protest zone after flares of violence

Diminished however not dismantled, Seattle protest occupation enters fourth week

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