Cleveland to Pay $3 Million in Water Bill Lien Civil Rights Suit

The city of Cleveland agreed to pay $3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed its water division’s policy of placing liens on the homes of those who fall behind on their bill disproportionately harms Black residents.

Of the agreed-upon amount laid out in a term sheet, $1.8 million will go toward the classes, while $1.2 million will cover attorney fees and costs, according to a transcript of a May 1 settlement conference that was docketed Tuesday. The class representatives will each receive $13,500.

An attorney for the class also mentioned “injunctive and programmatic relief,” but didn’t detail what ...