Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter loses big in lawsuit against city
The city of Atlanta pwns the Task Force for the Homeless in federal court
The Task Force for the Homeless, which operates Atlanta's largest homeless shelter at the corner of Peachtree and Pine streets, got walloped in federal court Thursday when Judge Thomas Thrash tossed out — on summary judgment — every single complaint in the organization's two-year-old lawsuit against City Hall.
Thrash dismissed claims that the city had illegally cut off the controversial shelter's water service; had defamed the Task Force in the press; had conspired to rob the nonprofit of its revenue by declining to recommend it for state and federal grants; and had improperly interfered with the Task Force's ability to solicit private donations.
Oh, and you guys also owe the city $147,000 in overdue water bills, Thrash told Task Force executive director Anita Beaty.
The judge's order is filled with legalese (big surprise), but here's the money quote:
The intentional interference with business and contractual relations alleged by the Task Force, even if true, were not performed for “business purposes, and for the City’s own advantage or profit.” At most, the Task Force can only show that the City of Atlanta and its officers intentionally interfered with the Task Force’s business relationships because they did not approve of the Task Force’s operation of the homeless shelter and its impact on the City.
In other words, there's no law against thinking you guys do a lousy job — and saying so.