Federal court awards attorneys fees to City of Burien regarding its 2024 lawsuit against King County - The B-Town (Burien) Blog
A significant ruling on March 13, 2025, saw a federal judge award attorneys' fees to the City of Burien after determining that King County improperly moved a lawsuit to federal court. The lawsuit focused on the enforcement of Burien's "unlawful public camping" Ordinance 832, which the King County Sheriff's Office failed to enforce. U. S. District Judge Richard A.
Jones stated that King County lacked an objectively reasonable basis for seeking removal, as the dispute involved solely state-law claims related to an Interlocal Agreement for police services. Burien had initiated a counter-suit against King County in March 2024, accusing the sheriff's office of breaching this agreement. Judge Jones clarified that the case was purely contractual, asserting that federal defenses like constitutional challenges do not grant grounds for removal to federal court. He noted that arguments lacking merit do not justify removal. Consequently, Burien is required to submit detailed attorneys' fees and costs within a week.
Further relief is to be sought in Washington state courts, indicating the ongoing legal complexities surrounding the enforcement of local ordinances.