About the Lawsuit

On May 4, 2020, six plaintiffs, including UC Hastings Law, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the City and County of San Francisco on 14 claims, including violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

The lawsuit seeks to compel the City to clear the Tenderloin’s dangerously crowded sidewalks of tents and drug dealers in the same way it maintains clear and safe sidewalks in more affluent neighborhoods of San Francisco. The unsafe conditions, caused largely by the escalating number of people camping in the neighborhood since the outbreak of COVID-19, present a public health hazard to everyone who lives or works in the Tenderloin, including housed and unhoused residents. The lawsuit was filed after numerous complaints from community groups and individuals to City officials failed to achieve visible results.

Learn more:

Plaintiff Statement Videos

Tenderloin Photos