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# Farmers may have to pay
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/farmers-may-have-to-pay/
- Published: 2006-07-26T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:04:41.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Downtown, #archive-import, Homeless

SM COURTHOUSE — Attorneys representing victims of the deadly Farmer’s Market crash three years ago argued Tuesday that the nonprofit organization which provides consulting services and other assistance to City Hall should be held liable for the accident even though it was not the host of the event.

The Southland Farmers’ Market Association should be forced to answer to charges of negligence because it promoted the weekly Wednesday market, cramming thousands onto a busy street, said Geraldine Weiss, an attorney for the plaintiffs, who have filed 36 lawsuits against Southland, City Hall, homeless services provider Step Up on Second and the Bayside District Corp., which helps City Hall manage downtown.

“Southland promoted, and in fact, initiated the Wednesday

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)