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Portland

Multnomah County Agrees to $9M Tear Gas Settlement

Commissioners approved paying $9 million to resolve a federal class action over 2020 tear gas exposure of jail prisoners.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Criminal Justice

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Multnomah County commissioners approved a $9 million settlement resolving a federal class action by more than 900 jail prisoners exposed to tear gas in 2020. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Multnomah County agreed to pay $9 million to settle a class-action federal lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 900 prisoners exposed to tear gas at the downtown Portland jail during 2020 protests. The county board approved the deal 4-0, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman must still grant formal approval.

Why it matters

The settlement resolves claims that prisoners were harmed by tear gas that entered jail modules during nightly demonstrations in summer 2020. Its outcome will determine how the county compensates people held in the facility during that period.

The county board approved the settlement 4-0 on November 13, 2026, with $594,224.88 from county funds and the balance covered by insurance. Judge Beckerman must still grant formal approval before the settlement takes effect.

The players

Multnomah County

Multnomah County is the Oregon county that operates the downtown Portland jail and is the defendant agreeing to the settlement.

Stacie F. Beckerman

Stacie F. Beckerman is a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Oregon's federal court who must grant formal approval of the settlement.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in November 2020 on behalf of prisoners held at the downtown Portland jail, who were exposed to tear gas during nightly protests after George Floyd's killing. Beckerman ruled last fall that the case could proceed against Multnomah County and others, and the settlement covers people exposed between May 29 and July 29, 2020.

Timeline

  1. May 25, 2020: George Floyd was killed, triggering downtown Portland protests.

  2. May 29 to July 29, 2020: The settlement class exposure window at the downtown jail.

  3. November 2020: The class-action federal lawsuit was filed.

  4. Last fall (2025): Judge Beckerman ruled the lawsuit could proceed.

  5. November 13, 2026: The county board approved the $9 million settlement 4-0.

Legal Context

The settlement follows months of demonstrations in Portland in 2020 that prompted repeated tear gas use downtown and led to litigation over its effects on people held in custody. It marks the resolution of a civil claim arising from a period of heightened protest-related force in the city.

Eligible people who were held at the downtown Portland jail between May 29 and July 29, 2020, may receive notice about the settlement and how to participate. The payout process will determine how compensation reaches class members.

The takeaway

Settlements like this one show how civil litigation can follow large-scale protest policing, and class members should watch for official notice describing eligibility and claim steps.

What happens next

If Judge Beckerman grants preliminary approval, class members will receive notice explaining the settlement and how funds will be distributed.

Further reading

For related background, see Criminal Justice coverage of Portland cases.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Oregon Live.

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