Judge Rules LA Liable for Seizing Homeless People's Property

Ruling stems from 7-year-old lawsuit over city's confiscation of tents, medications, and other belongings during homeless encampment cleanups.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A federal judge has ruled that the city of Los Angeles violated the constitutional rights of homeless residents by seizing and destroying their personal belongings, including tents, medications, and important documents, during cleanup operations of homeless encampments. The ruling comes from a 7-year-old lawsuit filed by 7 homeless individuals and 2 community organizations against the city.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights the ongoing tensions between the city's efforts to address homelessness and sanitation concerns, and the constitutional rights of homeless individuals to maintain their personal property. It raises questions about the proper protocols and oversight for homeless encampment cleanups in major cities.

The details

According to the ruling, the city had 'altered and fabricated' records of the cleanups after the case was filed in order to make it appear that proper care was taken to separate personal property from trash or hazardous material. The judge found that the city had 'acted willfully and in bad faith to deprive plaintiffs of relevant information' and rejected the city's explanations that any flaws in the documentation were due to 'error-filled record keeping during the pandemic'.

  • The lawsuit was filed 7 years ago.
  • The judge issued the ruling on February 13, 2026.

The players

U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer

The federal judge who ruled that the city of Los Angeles violated the constitutional rights of homeless residents by seizing and destroying their personal belongings during encampment cleanups.

Janet Garcia

One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who was homeless when the case was brought and said the city took her work cleaning supplies during cleanup operations while she was living on the streets.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

The organization that represented the 7 homeless residents and 2 community organizations in the lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.

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What they’re saying

“Every time I lose my belongings, I have to start over. How am I supposed to get back up on my feet when they keep making me go back to square one?”

— Janet Garcia, Homeless Plaintiff

What’s next

Both sides were ordered to file briefs by March 15 on proposed relief, as the ruling did not describe how the city can comply with the judgment.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing public health and sanitation concerns with the constitutional rights of homeless individuals. It underscores the need for clear protocols, oversight, and transparency in how homeless encampment cleanups are conducted to ensure the humane treatment of vulnerable populations.