Glover v. City of Laguna Beach is a class action lawsuit challenging Laguna Beach's ineffective and discriminatory homelessness program.
Laguna Beach, one of the most affluent communities in the country, is openly hostile to the plight of its disabled, homeless residents. The city’s homelessness program combines minimal emergency shelter that does not meet the needs of its disabled, homeless residents, with increased enforcement, harassment, and scrutiny of those who are forced to live in public spaces because they cannot access this shelter. Rather than provide the permanent supportive housing (housing plus wrap-around services) necessary to meet the needs of its disabled, homeless population and constructively end homelessness, the city’s program is designed to discourage disabled, homeless persons from remaining in visible locations in the city. This strategy has proven ineffective as disabled, homeless residents targeted by the city frequently have no way to comply with the legal demands being placed upon them.
The city's failure to meet the needs of its disabled, homeless residents violates protections guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Case Developments
The U.S. District Court in Santa Ana has granted final approval of the class action settlement.
The settlement sets up a procedure for individuals to request reasonable modifications to the city's shelter based on a disability. If staff at the shelter denies a request, the decision can be appealed to a city employee independent of the homelessness program and trained on the ADA and Rehab Act.
All shelter staff will receive a broad range of training on how to best serve those with disabilities. The agreement additionally calls for the development of some innovative services, such as a pilot program to provide separate sleeping spaces for persons who, because of a disabling condition, cannot sleep in crowded, congregate settings. And it provides for specific accommodations, such as wheelchair lifts in the city's shuttle van and cots instead of floor mats for people who need them.
The settlement also obligates the city to train its police officers on proper interaction with people experiencing homelessness.
The federal court will retain jurisdiction over the case in order to enforce the agreement. Read the order.
The Court has granted a motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement. Read the order.
Read the class notice in English, Spanish, and easy-to-understand format.
June 6, 2018
The City of Laguna Beach has agreed to provide improvements to its homeless programs and facilities, ensuring that people with disabilities will have access in accord with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. Read the settlement agreement.
June 25, 2017
The federal court grants in part and denies in part the motion for summary judgment. Read the order.
June 23, 2017
The federal court grants the motion for class certification. Read the order.
October 31, 2016
ACLU SoCal filed a motion for summary judgment. Read the memorandum regarding the motion.
June 27, 2016
ACLU SoCal filed a motion for class certification. Read the memorandum regarding the motion.
May 4, 2016
ACLU SoCal filed its second amended complaint. Read the complaint.
February 10, 2016
The federal court denied the motion for preliminary injunction. Read the order.
November 23, 2015
ACLU SoCal filed a motion for preliminary injunction. Read the motion.
November 23, 2015
ACLU SoCal filed a motion for provisional class certification. Read the motion.
October 16, 2015
ACLU SoCal filed its first amended complaint. Read the complaint.
August 20, 2015
ACLU SoCal filed the original complaint. Read the complaint.
