Stewart v. City of Tacoma — 9th Cir. (Aug 5, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit considers whether Tacoma itself can be liable after police seized and destroyed industrial hemp they believed was marijuana. Aaron Stewart and Tierra Harvest say the city had a custom of destroying suspected contraband without testing, notice, or a hearing. Tacoma says one discretionary incident is not a municipal policy and that state regulations allowed the destruction. Under Monell, a city is liable only when its own policy or custom causes a constitutional violation. The panel later affirmed the judgment for Tacoma, holding that Stewart had not established municipal liability.
Stewart v. City of Tacoma (No. 25-4271) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 5, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/05/25-4271.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-4271&hearingDate=2026-08-05
Memorandum disposition — Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/08/12/25-4271.pdf
Summary-judgment order — Western District of Washington:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/3%3A2023cv05786/325924/131/0.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-4271
Decision report — Law360:https://www.law360.com/criminalpractice/articles/2512796/9th-circ-won-t-revive-hemp-co-s-2-75m-destruction-suit
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30 — U.S. District Court:https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/_forms/_legal/frcpweb/FRC00033.HTM
Rule 30(b)(6) explanation — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/oip/citizens-resp-ethics-wash-v-us-doge-serv-no-25-511-2025-wl-1392836-ddc-apr-15-2025-cooper-j
Robert L. Sirianni Jr. — Brownstone Law:https://www.brownstonelaw.com/attorneys/robert-l-sirianni-jr-esq/
Robert L. Sirianni Jr. counsel filing — U.S. Supreme Court:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-581/120933/20191031142027444_Dovin%20Petition--PDFA.pdf
Michelle Yotter counsel filing — Washington Courts:https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/petitions/1044950%20City%20of%20Tacoma%2C%20et%20al.%20%20Answer%20to%20Amicus.pdf
Published-opinion search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/
Memorandum-disposition search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/memoranda/
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:47Robert L. Sirianni Jr.
- 4:05Rule 30(b)(6)
- 10:11Michelle Yotter