Case: Bradley v. City of San Diego

3:25-cv-02186 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Filed Date: Aug. 25, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case challenging the absence of humane conditions and reasonable accommodations for unhoused residents of municipally administered camps.  On August 25, 2025, eight unhoused people with disabilities filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Represented by Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance, in addition to private counsel, the plaintiffs sued the City of San Diego and two non-profit organizations—Dreams for Change and Downtown…

This is a case challenging the absence of humane conditions and reasonable accommodations for unhoused residents of municipally administered camps. 


On August 25, 2025, eight unhoused people with disabilities filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Represented by Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance, in addition to private counsel, the plaintiffs sued the City of San Diego and two non-profit organizations—Dreams for Change and Downtown Partnership—under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Fair Housing Act, Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and various California state laws. The complaint also listed causes of action based on nuisance and negligence. The unhoused individuals alleged they were coerced to reside in the city’s Safe Sleeping Program to avoid harassment from law enforcement, even though the camps were rodent-infested, moldy, lacking in adequate food, shade, and shelter, and in defiance of fire safety standards. They sought injunctive, declarative, and monetary relief, including compensatory and damages, as well as attorney’s fees.


The case was assigned to Judge Andrew G. Schopler. As of September 17, 2025, the case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (8/31/2025)

Om Shah (9/17/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71196358/parties/bradley-v-city-of-san-diego/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Burchett, Brian Lee (California)

Dreher, Robert Scott (California)

Grumet, Elizabeth Y. (California)

Jones-Wright, Genevieve L. (California)

Menasche, Ann E (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:25-cv-02186

Complaint for Injunctive, Declaratory, and Monetary Relief

Bradley et al. v. City of San Diego et al.

Aug. 25, 2025

Aug. 25, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71196358/bradley-v-city-of-san-diego/

Last updated Nov. 25, 2025, 3:43 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT with Jury Demand against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ACASDC-20221458.), filed by Liam Burton, Karen Abood, Jeffrey Bradley, John Borja, Timothy Allen, Tosha Alvarado, Laura Zaleta, Paul Scallan. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)The new case number is 3:25-cv-2186-AGS-MMP. Judge Andrew G. Schopler and Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit are assigned to the case. (Menasche, Ann)(axc1) (sjt). (Entered: 08/25/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Aug. 25, 2025

Aug. 25, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Summons Issued. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should print this summons and serve it in accordance with Rule 4, Fed.R.Civ.P and LR 4.1. (axc1) (sjt). (Entered: 08/25/2025)

Aug. 25, 2025

Aug. 25, 2025

3

Extension of Time to File Answer

Sept. 25, 2025

Sept. 25, 2025

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Sept. 26, 2025

Sept. 26, 2025

5

Waiver of Service Executed

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

6

Summons Returned Executed

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

7

Summons Returned Executed

Oct. 28, 2025

Oct. 28, 2025

8

Extension of Time to File

Nov. 13, 2025

Nov. 13, 2025

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File

Nov. 13, 2025

Nov. 13, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Public Accommodations/Contracting

Public Housing

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 25, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Eight unhoused people with disabilities forced to sleep in camps established and operated by San Diego.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City of San Diego (San Diego), City

Dreams For Change, Non-profit or advocacy

Downtown Partnership, Non-profit or advocacy

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.

State law

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Other Dockets:

Southern District of California 3:25-cv-02186

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Assault/abuse by staff

Emergency shelter

Fire safety

Government services

Housing

Housing assistance

Loss or damage to property

Neglect by staff

Placement in shelters

Poverty/homelessness

Sanitation / living conditions

Benefits (Source):

SSI

Disability and Disability Rights:

Depression

Mental Illness, Unspecified

Reasonable Accommodations

Discrimination Basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Policing:

Over/Unlawful Detention (policing)