Seattle Must Confront Claims From Businesses Over 2020 Protests

The city of Seattle must face nuisance claims, the Ninth Circuit ruled, from two businesses who are seeking compensation over allegations that the city’s response to 2020 racial justice protests caused them economic harm.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said Tuesday the businesses can’t recover under federal constitutional law but may pursue state tort claims.

Hugo Properties LLC, an apartment building owner, and 3Pak LLC, which operates Oma Bap restaurant, were located in the protest area in 2020, which was known both as Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP, and Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or ...