Albuquerque encampment sweeps class action

LaDella Williams v. City of Albuquerque, a December 2022 class action over citations, arrests and property seizures during encampment clearings, with the city appealing class certification and outside legal spending authorized up to $2.66 million.

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2026-10-02 · housing

Albuquerque adds $1.6M to legal fight over homeless encampment sweeps

City Desk ABQ

The Albuquerque City Council unanimously approved a fifth supplemental agreement with Holland & Hart LLP adding $1.6 million for the city's defense in LaDella Williams, et al. v. City of Albuquerque, raising the contract's maximum value to $2.66 million. The city has paid $1.368 million in legal fees and litigation expenses so far and said it has made more than 20 witnesses available for depositions. The class action, filed in December 2022 by unhoused residents over citations, arrests, fines and seizure of belongings during encampment clearings, is funded from the city's Risk Management Fund; the city said it cannot estimate the lawsuit's final cost.

District Judge Joshua Allison certified the case as a class action on Oct. 2, 2025, and the city appealed that decision to the New Mexico Court of Appeals on Oct. 17, 2025.