LA Council Approves $1.8 Million More for Homeless Settlement Counsel

The additional funding will cover rising legal costs as the city struggles to meet court-ordered obligations.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:15pm

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The Los Angeles City Council voted 9-4 to approve an additional $1.8 million in funding for the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP to handle ongoing litigation related to a settlement concerning the city's response to homelessness. This follows a previous $900,000 contract with the firm, bringing the total to nearly $7.5 million as the city faces challenges in meeting the terms of the 2022 settlement agreement.

Why it matters

The escalating legal costs reflect the complexity of addressing homelessness and the challenges of implementing court-ordered solutions. The city's apparent difficulty in meeting the terms of the settlement suggests a fundamental tension between the goals of the agreement and the practical realities of providing shelter and services.

The details

In 2020, the LA Alliance for Human Rights, a group of business owners and residents, sued the city and county of Los Angeles to compel greater efforts to shelter the city's homeless population. A settlement was reached in 2022, overseen by U.S. District Judge David Carter. However, last summer, Judge Carter determined the city had not met its obligations under the settlement agreement, which mandates the creation of 12,915 shelter beds and the removal of 9,800 encampments by June 2027. As of recent court filings, over 3,800 beds still need to be established.

  • In 2020, the LA Alliance for Human Rights sued the city and county of Los Angeles.
  • A settlement was reached in 2022, overseen by U.S. District Judge David Carter.
  • Last summer, Judge Carter determined the city had not met its obligations under the settlement agreement.
  • In January, the city was ordered to pay over $1.8 million in attorneys' fees and costs to the Alliance and related groups, a decision the city is currently appealing.
  • On January 29, 2026, the Los Angeles City Council approved an additional $1.8 million in funding for the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

The players

LA Alliance for Human Rights

A group of business owners and residents who sued the city and county of Los Angeles in 2020 to ensure more homeless people were sheltered.

Judge David Carter

The U.S. District Judge who oversaw the 2022 settlement agreement between the city and the LA Alliance for Human Rights.

Hydee Feldstein Soto

The Los Angeles City Attorney who requested the additional $1.8 million in funding for the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

The law firm that has been representing the city in the ongoing litigation, with the contract growing to nearly $7.5 million.

Ivor Pine

A spokesman for City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who stated that the city is best served by continuing to work with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

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What they’re saying

“the best interests of the city are served by continuing to work with Gibson, a firm that has exceeded expectations and delivered exceptional results for the city.”

— Ivor Pine, Spokesman for City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The city is currently appealing Judge Carter's January decision ordering Los Angeles to pay over $1.8 million in attorneys' fees and costs to the Alliance and other groups.

The takeaway

The escalating legal costs and the city's difficulty in meeting the terms of the settlement agreement highlight the complex challenges of addressing homelessness and the tension between court-ordered solutions and the practical realities of providing shelter and services.