Filed Date: Aug. 3, 2022
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
On August 3, 2022, four plaintiffs seeking to represent the thousands of Hmong and Asian residents of Siskiyou County, California, filed a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. They were represented by the ACLU of Northern California, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Asian Law Caucus, and private counsel. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes was assigned to the case.
The plaintiffs sued Siskiyou County and its sheriff under 42 USC § 1983, alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment's search and seizure clause, Fourteenth Amendment's substantive due process and equal protections clauses, and state law. Plaintiffs argued that the county and its sheriff conspired to make Siskiyou County inhospitable to Asians. Specifically, they alleged that the sheriff disproportionately targeted Asian drivers for traffic stops, the county passed discriminatory water ordinances in Asian neighborhoods, and the county selectively imposed steep cannabis fines and unjust liens on Asian property owners. The plaintiffs sought declaratory judgment, an injunction that would prohibit the county's discriminatory policies, practices, and customs, and attorneys' fees.
On September 16, 2022, Chief District Judge Kimberly Jo Mueller ordered the reassignment of this case to herself and Magistrate Judge Allison Clair because it involved similar questions of fact and law as Lo v. County of Siskiyou, to which Judge Mueller was already assigned.
As of November 2022, this case is still ongoing.
Summary Authors
Jerry Lan (10/5/2022)
Lo v. County of Siskiyou, Eastern District of California (2021)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/64870069/chang-v-county-of-siskiyou/
Last updated Nov. 7, 2022, 3:11 p.m.
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 3, 2022
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Four plaintiffs seeking to represent the thousands of Hmong and other Asian residents of Siskiyou County, California, filed a putative class action lawsuit against the county, alleging discrimination against Asians.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Pending
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Unreasonable search and seizure
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Discrimination-basis:
National origin discrimination
Race: