Judge makes decision on Minneapolis homeless encampment lawsuit

Minneapolis encampment dispute heads to civil court

The ongoing dispute over a Minneapolis encampment heads to civil court on Thursday. After the city took steps to clear the site, the owner of the troubled property is looking to have his case dismissed.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Minneapolis property owner fighting the city over a homeless encampment he maintained in his vacant lot appeared in civil court on Thursday.

Minneapolis encampment battle

The backstory:

In mid-July, Hamoudi Sabri opened his vacant lot at East Lake Street and 28th Avenue South as a homeless encampment. The city says, within two days of opening, 20 people moved onto the property. Within a week, there were 60 people living in the encampment.

The city claims conditions quickly deteriorated at the encampment, with the city declaring the area a public health nuisance on July 21. Then, in September, the city cleared the homeless encampment after a mass shooting – that police say stemmed from a drug territory dispute – which left one person dead and six others hurt.

In September, the council approved legal action against Sabri after issuing thousands of dollars of fines against him. Two weeks later, a judge granted a restraining order, preventing Sabri from allowing encampments on his properties.

The other side:

In October, Sabri began welcoming people back to his property during the day, now calling the spot a "hygiene and outreach hub." Sabri claimed he was providing space for unhoused individuals to connect with outreach workers, case managers, and support systems to find permanent housing.

In a news release, Sabri blasted the city over "failed policies" leading to homelessness in the city. However, the city has repeatedly pointed out that homeless rates in Minneapolis have fallen and are below national averages.

Judge rules on motion to dismiss

Big picture view:

In court, attorneys argued a motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the city against Sabri.

The city's attorney describes the lawsuit as a straightforward case focused on enforcing public health statutes. Sabri's defense argued that when he requested the city's assistance to improve living conditions through portable bathrooms and garbage pickup, his requests were denied. Sabri's defense tried to reframe the issue, telling the judge this is not about trash or sanitation but rather the eviction of unhoused people who have no place else to go.

In the end, the judge sided with the city, dismissing Sabri's motion to dismiss the case.

What they're saying:

After court, Sabri expressed disappointment with the judge's ruling.

"The judge ruled what he ruled," Sabri said after court. "I disagree with him because he should have had a heart to actually understand they need to be somewhere warm. And we have a lot of property in the city that the city owns that they could be in. But they've been chasing around, they're going to go to the bathroom. I think my lawyer has done a wonderful job of laying everything out, but the law doesn't want to listen. So, I think we are the community, they decide this stuff, not the city attorney's office."

Minneapolis council committee moves forward with fines

By the numbers:

A Minneapolis City Council committee also moved forward with more than $8.700 in fines against Sabri's company related to the encampment.

During a hearing, Sabri's attorney fought against the fines, arguing the city was double and triple dipping. City reps explained Sabri and his company were facing fines under three different statues for three separate justifications, all connected to the encampment.

If these fines are levied after a full council vote, Sabri would have the chance to appeal to the Court of Appeals. Sabri is already appealing other fines brought by the state.