City Of Seattle Facing Trial For Intentionally Destroying Evidence In Deadly CHOP Zone Lawsuit

The ruling comes after the city was found to have purged thousands of text messages despite a court order not to do so.

According to the Seattle Times, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones issued sanctions against the city for destroying evidence in a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who was killed in the CHOP zone. The judge stated that the city's actions "undermine the integrity of the judicial system" and "deprive the plaintiffs of the ability to fully and fairly litigate their claims."

The CHOP zone, also known as the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," was a six-block area in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood that was occupied by protesters for several weeks in the summer of 2020. The zone was established following the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police, and the subsequent protests against police brutality and racial injustice.

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January 23, 2023

The lawsuit in question was brought by the family of Lorenzo Anderson, a 19-year-old man who was killed in the CHOP zone on June 20, 2020. The family's attorneys had requested text messages and other communications between city officials and the Seattle Police Department regarding the CHOP zone, but the city was found to have purged thousands of relevant messages.

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According to The Post Millennial, the city's actions were "intentional and in bad faith." The report states that the city had been ordered by the court not to delete any relevant evidence but did so anyway. The judge also found that the city had not adequately searched for relevant evidence and had failed to produce certain documents that were requested by the plaintiffs.

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The judge's ruling means that the lawsuit will proceed to trial, where a jury will decide whether the city is liable for Anderson's death. The city could potentially face significant financial damages if found liable.

The family's attorney, Karen Koehler, said in a statement: "This is a huge victory for the Anderson family and for the public's right to know what really happened in the CHOP."

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The City of Seattle's action in destroying evidence, despite court orders not to, raises serious questions about their accountability and transparency in the CHOP zone. The ruling by the federal judge is an important step towards seeking the truth and justice for the family of Lorenzo Anderson and for all those affected by the CHOP zone.