Legal Tools

File a Small Claims Case Against the City

The City of Oakland destroyed your property during an encampment sweep. You can sue them in small claims court — for up to $10,000 — without a lawyer. This free tool fills out all the forms for you.

Launch the Tool → Our Federal Lawsuit →

How It Works

Three steps to filed forms

No legal experience required. Enter your information once and download a complete, court-ready packet.

Step 01

Enter your information

Use the manual entry form or upload your intake spreadsheet. The tool handles address parsing, date formatting, and auto-generates claim language from your sweep location and date.

Step 02

Download your packet

The tool fills in SC-100 (complaint), FW-001 (fee waiver), FW-003 (fee waiver order), SC-112A (itemized property), and SC-150 (declaration) — all at once as a ZIP file.

Step 03

File at the courthouse

Print and bring your packet to the Alameda County Superior Court, René C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon St, Oakland. Request a fee waiver at the clerk's window when you file.

What Gets Generated

Your complete court packet

Five California Judicial Council forms, pre-filled and ready to print.

SC-100
Plaintiff's Claim and Order to Go to Small Claims Court The main complaint form. Names the City of Oakland as defendant, states the amount claimed (up to $10,000), and describes the property destruction.
FW-001
Request to Waive Court Fees Requests that the court waive filing fees. Most encampment residents qualify automatically based on income or public benefits receipt.
SC-150
Declaration A signed, sworn statement in your own words describing what the City took and destroyed, and how it affected you.
SC-112A
Attachment — Itemized Property List Lists each item of property destroyed with its estimated value. Use this to account for clothing, shelter gear, documents, tools, and other belongings.
FW-003
Order on Court Fee Waiver Signed by the judge. Included in the packet so the clerk can process your fee waiver on the same day you file.
Batch
Bulk generation from a spreadsheet Advocates can upload a spreadsheet of clients and generate complete form packets for all of them at once. Supports the Oakland intake sheet format directly.
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This tool fills forms — it does not provide legal advice. For questions about your specific case, contact Berkeley Homeless Union at berkeleyhomelessunion@gmail.com or reach out to East Bay Community Law Center for legal representation.