By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
A King County Superior Court judge has declined to reverse the sale of a historic property owned by the Seattle Black Firefighters Association (SBFFA), despite claims that the sale violated a previous court order and excluded longtime members from the decision-making process.
On Monday, Judge Wiggs-Martin issued the ruling in the case of Erwin Chappel, Cardell Thompson, and Clarence Williams vs. Douglas Johnson, Seattle Black Firefighters Association, Juliana Edwards, Hilton Jones, and Christianson Dockter. The lawsuit sought to undo the October 2024 sale of the property at 2302 E. Pike St., which has served as a vital cultural and community hub since SBFFA purchased it in 1972.
Originally acquired to support African American firefighters and the broader community, the building became a place for advocacy, mentorship, education, and civic organizing in Seattle’s Central District. Its sale sparked outcry from retired members and community leaders who argued that the process violated a January 2022 court ruling.
According to the plaintiffs, the SBFFA executive board moved forward with selling the property without notifying or securing approval from the full membership, including retired members who were instrumental in the property’s acquisition and stewardship. They allege they “were deliberately excluded from the decision-making process,” prompting the legal challenge.
The lawsuit claims the board manipulated governance procedures to limit participation in the vote to sell the property:
The current president and executive board allegedly ignored a January 2024 court ruling that barred the sale unless all active and retired members approved it.
Following the court’s ruling, the board enacted new rules to restrict who could attend meetings, vote, or exercise other membership rights—excluding many retired members in the process.
Retired members, many of whom helped purchase the property, were not given voting rights on the sale despite the court’s directive.
While the plaintiffs initially secured some favorable outcomes—such as the court holding the defendants in contempt and issuing significant financial penalties—Judge Wiggs-Martin ultimately ruled against reversing the sale.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs failed to meet the burden of proof that the buyers had actual or constructive knowledge of any existing claims or rights to the property prior to its sale. The court also determined it lacked jurisdiction to reverse the sale as a sanction for SBFFA’s earlier contempt of court.
“The judge has refused to reverse the sale of the house. I am very disappointed by this decision,” said Yohannes Sium, attorney for the plaintiffs.
Eddie Rye, a local community and civil rights activist, agrees with Sium that both are disappointed in Judge Wiggs-Martin’s decision.
“Very disappointing,” says Rye. “The fact that the retired members who paid for the house to begin with were not allowed to vote. There were some discrepancies that even Judge Wiggs ruled that there were certain items that warranted a contempt of court ruling. So, it’s very disappointing. I’m really disappointed.”
Sium stated that despite the setback, his clients are preparing to file an appeal.
Rye too hopes that there will be an appeal process as he believes the work is not done.
“I certainly hope that the retired Black firefighters and the current Black firefighters who are still working with the Seattle Fire Department do appeal this,” says Rye. “It’s egregious. I hope they do appeal it and just hope for the best.”
The case has unfolded over more than a year, marked by delays for legal analysis and growing tensions within the community. While the court addressed certain violations by the defendants, the ruling allowed the sale to stand—leaving the plaintiffs to consider their next legal steps in what they say is a fight to preserve both community legacy and nonprofit accountability.
