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Chicago Sheriff Halts Evictions

Lawman declares that throwing renters out of foreclosed properties is unjust

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2008 8:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Chicago lawman is going to stop enforcing foreclosure evictions because they’re unfair to renters, the Chicago Tribune reports. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has a huge and growing eviction list but is refusing to carry out any more mortgage-foreclosure evictions until lenders first figure out who’s actually living at foreclosed properties. Foreclosure evictions in Cook County have more than doubled since 2006.

"The people we're interacting with are, many times, oblivious to the financial straits their landlord might be in," said Dart, who says he is willing to take the risk of being found in contempt of court. "They are the innocent victims here, and they are the ones all of us must step up for and find some way to protect."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

An Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now member holds a sign as the political action group stages a protest in front of the Federal Reserve Bank Building on Sept. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

The front door of a home that was foreclosed on is marked with a message Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

A foreclosure sign is seen atop a sale sign for a house in Stockton, Calif. Home foreclosures soared to an all-time high in the final quarter of last year and are likely to keep on rising (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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We will no longer be a party to something that's so unjust. - Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart

There a lot of things going on that are not proper procedure, and the Sheriff's Department has been caught in the middle. - Kathy Clark, executive director of the Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing

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Chicago Sheriff Halts Evictions