U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones ordered that the City of Seattle’s moratorium on residential evictions will remain in effect as the lawsuit challenging it proceeds. Judge Jones denied the landlord plaintiff’s motion seeking a preliminary injunction against the City and Washington State’s eviction moratoria.
Pete Holmes: “As residents, workers and families struggle with COVID-19’s impacts, an injunction would have only exacerbated our homelessness crisis. Judge Jones and Magistrate Creatura made the legally sound and morally right decision today, especially as winter weather approaches with infections on the rise. The newly convened Congress should take immediate action on a relief package that provides aid to all those suffering, including struggling tenants and landlords alike.”
Plaintiffs have challenged the City’s enactment of temporary measures to protect tenants from evictions, specifically, 1) the eviction moratorium, 2) the six-month defense to an eviction after the State of Emergency terminates, and 3) the allowance of a three-to-six-month repayment plan for overdue rent. They also sued the State of Washington over their eviction moratorium.