Multnomah

CAIR Takes Legal Action Against Multnomah County Sheriff for Alleged Hijab Violations of Muslim Women in Custody

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MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, asserting that the rights of two Muslim women were violated while they were in custody. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of sisters Serine Abuelhawa and Marjannah Hassan, claims that the sheriff’s office forcibly removed their hijabs and took photographs of them without their religious head coverings. CAIR argues that this action not only infringes on their religious freedoms but also disrespects their dignity as individuals. “The treatment these young women faced is … Read more

Multnomah County Jury Grants $50 Million to Wildfire Survivors, Holding PacifiCorp Accountable for 2020 Disaster

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A Multnomah County jury awarded approximately $50 million to ten survivors of Oregon’s 2020 Labor Day wildfires, marking a significant development in a series of legal actions against PacifiCorp, a Portland-based electric utility. This decision increases the company’s financial liability to more than $385 million, stemming from a ruling in 2023 that determined PacifiCorp was negligent in its failure to cut off power during hazardous fire conditions, leading to four major wildfires. Among those receiving compensation are Wanda and Bill Ford, an elderly couple whose home in the Otis area was destroyed by the Echo … Read more

Multnomah County Sues Major Energy Companies for $1.5 Billion Over Catastrophic Heat Dome Damages

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Portland, Oregon – Multnomah County recently filed a lawsuit against major fossil fuel producers, seeking to pin responsibility for the extreme heat wave of 2021, infamously known as the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome, that devastated the region. The legal action, instituted on June 22, 2023, in an Oregon state court, targets industry giants including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, and BP, among others. The lawsuit accuses these corporations of significantly contributing to climate change through their historic greenhouse gas emissions. This, the county posits, played a critical role in exacerbating the heat dome event that clamped … Read more

Multnomah County Jails in Crisis: Grand Jury Report Reveals Urgent Safety and Staffing Issues Amid Rising Inmate Deaths

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Portland, Oregon – A profound crisis is sweeping through Multnomah County’s jail system, compromising the welfare and safety of the public, according to a newly released corrections grand jury report. Following a series of inmate fatalities that commenced in 2022, the report sheds light on severe shortcomings in the local jails, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms. The inquiry, undertaken by seven grand jurors who inspected the county’s three jails and one prison over recent months, has pinpointed critical issues primarily stemming from staff shortages and outdated facilities. Corrections officers are compelled to work … Read more