Norristown revokes ordinance that punished victims of domestic abuse
Settling a federal lawsuit Monday, Norristown agreed to revoke an ordinance that sought to evict a woman for calling the police in several domestic violence disputes.
Settling a federal lawsuit Monday, Norristown agreed to revoke an ordinance that sought to evict a woman for calling the police in several domestic violence disputes.
The so-called nuisance ordinance targeted landlords and tenants who called for police assistance more than twice in four months. It spurred not only a civil rights lawsuit, but also a complaint from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and pleas from state legislators, prosecutors, and victims' rights advocates to change the law.
The plaintiff in the case, 34-year-old Lakisha Briggs, had several encounters with police in 2012 because of an abusive boyfriend. She broke up with the man after a police officer told her she was going to be evicted from the Wayne Avenue house she shared with her 3-year-old daughter, the lawsuit said.
When the ex-boyfriend returned to the house weeks later - once attacking her with a brick and another time stabbing her in the neck with a shard of glass - Briggs did not call police because she feared losing her house, the lawsuit alleged. A neighbor called for help, and Briggs was airlifted to a hospital.
In June 2012, the municipality began proceedings to evict Briggs and revoke her landlord's rental license. A district judge blocked those efforts.
Municipal officials did not respond to requests for comment Monday.
Six months after the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on Briggs' behalf, Norristown revised the ordinance and agreed to drop the proceedings against her.
The revised ordinance, now repealed, still allowed financial penalties against landlords and encouraged leases to stipulate that "disorderly behavior" convictions could result in eviction, according to State Rep. Mike Vereb.
Vereb and Rep. Todd Stephens, both Republicans from Montgomery County, wrote House Bill 1796 to ban such nuisance ordinances. It passed the House in January and is now before the Senate.
Briggs, who will also receive $495,000 as part of the settlement, said in a statement that she was pleased with the outcome.
"While what happened to me was shocking and frightening, I am relieved that no other family will have to choose between their safety and their home," she said.
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