Filed Date: Nov. 18, 2015
Closed Date: Jan. 4, 2017
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a case about an African American community member with a long history of activism, including organizing the Black Alliance For Education and founding the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. The case cites a number of instances, including but not limited to his occupation of the Colman School, his wrongful arrest and eviction by Seattle Police, and a series of legal battles with the Seattle Public School District and alleges multiple violations of civil rights and other wrongful acts conducted on behalf of the Seattle Public School District. On November 18, 2015, the African American community activist filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The plaintiff sued Ronald English, Larry Dorsey (both officials of the Seattle Public School District) and the Seattle Public School District No. 1 under 42 USC 1983, wrongful forcible eviction under RCW 59.10-59.20 and common law principles of false arrest and imprisonment, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. Represented pro se, Plaintiff sought general damages for pain and suffering, special damages for reasonable and necessary legal and medical expenses, for actual attorney’s fees and litigation costs, and for mandated court supervised trainings for the Seattle Public School District and its officers to properly train employees and officers on proper administrative procedure, Constitutional Rights of the public, and proper investigative and disciplinary procedures.
The Plaintiff claims a series of contractual and civil violations were committed against them. First, Plaintiff claims the Defendants violated a written purchase and sale agreement to convey to Plaintiffs a vacant school building that Plaintiffs had been using to conduct educational programming for 13 years. Plaintiff claims he was then wrongfully removed from a school board meeting and arrested. Next, Plaintiff claims his organization was a holdover tenant in the vacant Horace Mann School in Seattle and was wrongfully evicted from the premises on November 19, 2013. As a result of this, Plaintiffs were banned from all Seattle School district property, events, and meetings for one year. Plaintiffs appealed this ban to the Seattle Public School District and alleged there was a violation of process when Plaintiffs were not afforded sufficient notice of the hearing or notified of their right to file a supporting brief. Plaintiffs further alleged a due process violation as the decision to uphold the ban was not made by a judge, judicial officer, or even lawyer. Plaintiff states that they were permitted to resume their activities in Seattle Public School District facilities after a decision in the King County Superior Court. In Jasinowski-Kahl et al. v. Seattle Public School Dist. No. 1, No. 13-2-42159-3 SEA in the King County Superior Court in Washington State, Plaintiff appealed this denial, and received a modification to the ban, which allowed Plaintiff to attend all meetings held on District property that are open to the public.
Defendants filed their answer to the complaint on April 20, 2016. On July 22, 2016, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be dismissed without prejudice, as Defendants represented that Plaintiff had been unresponsive to their outreach and attempts to prepare a joint status report. Plaintiff moved to recuse Judge Pechman due to adverse judgements she issued in other cases involving the Plaintiff. On August 12, 2016, the Court dismissed the case without prejudice for failure to prosecute.
Plaintiff appealed the dismissal to the Ninth Circuit on September 9, 2016. On December 13, 2016, the Ninth Circuit dismissed the appeal as frivolous and not taken in good faith.
Summary Authors
Simone Otenaike (9/18/2024)
Jeremy Jones (9/22/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13320759/parties/tahir-v-english/
Pechman, Marsha J. (Washington)
Only, E-Service (Washington)
Tahir, Omari (Washington)
Chen, Derek Casey (Washington)
Estes, Stewart Andrew (Washington)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13320759/tahir-v-english/
Last updated Dec. 20, 2025, 4:49 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 18, 2015
Closing Date: Jan. 4, 2017
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is an activist with long standing connections to the Seattle area. They are also the founder of the African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Seattle Public School District No. 1, City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Western District of Washington 2:15-cv-01819
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 16-35734
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Amount Defendant Pays: $0
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis: