Class Action Lawsuit Leads to $2.3 Million Settlement for Homeless in Fresno

U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger has approved a $2.3 million settlement to be paid by Fresno to more than 200 homeless residents. The class action lawsuit, which was brought on behalf of the residents by Bay Area attorney Paul Alexander along with American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, was brought on for violations of their clients’ fourth amendment rights and their rights to due process. The lawyers claim the fourth amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, was violated when the city’s clean-up sweeps destroyed the property of the homeless residents who were not present at the time of the clean up.

Alexander, who was pleased with the settlement results and has said that his firm will not be taking any legal fees, was praised by Wanger for “exemplary and outstanding service to the public.” One of the plaintiffs, Jeannine Nelson, noted that she hoped this settlement would change the attitude of the city toward the homeless.

Of the $2.3 million total, $1.485 million will go to the homeless with the rest going toward legal fees for the ACLU. Alexander has said that 268 homeless residents have put in claims, and that the deadline to do so has been extended to August 22nd.