diff --git a/dev/dev-agent.sh b/dev/dev-agent.sh
index bdbdb70..3a78f53 100755
--- a/dev/dev-agent.sh
+++ b/dev/dev-agent.sh
@@ -185,11 +185,7 @@ log "preflight passed"
 # =============================================================================
 # CLAIM ISSUE
 # =============================================================================
-if ! issue_claim "$ISSUE"; then
-  log "SKIP: failed to claim issue #${ISSUE} (already assigned to another agent)"
-  echo '{"status":"already_done","reason":"issue was claimed by another agent"}' > "$PREFLIGHT_RESULT"
-  exit 0
-fi
+issue_claim "$ISSUE"
 CLAIMED=true
 
 # =============================================================================
diff --git a/dev/dev-poll.sh b/dev/dev-poll.sh
index 22ba929..98b8b7d 100755
--- a/dev/dev-poll.sh
+++ b/dev/dev-poll.sh
@@ -307,11 +307,6 @@ memory_guard 2000
 # PRIORITY 1: orphaned in-progress issues
 # =============================================================================
 log "checking for in-progress issues"
-
-# Get current bot identity for assignee checks
-BOT_USER=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-  "${API%%/repos*}/user" | jq -r '.login') || BOT_USER=""
-
 ORPHANS_JSON=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
   "${API}/issues?state=open&labels=in-progress&limit=10&type=issues")
 
@@ -392,20 +387,7 @@ if [ "$ORPHAN_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
       log "issue #${ISSUE_NUM} has open PR #${HAS_PR} (CI: ${CI_STATE}, waiting)"
     fi
   else
-    # Check assignee before adopting orphaned issue
-    ISSUE_JSON=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-      "${API}/issues/${ISSUE_NUM}") || true
-    ASSIGNEE=$(echo "$ISSUE_JSON" | jq -r '.assignee.login // ""') || true
-
-    if [ -n "$ASSIGNEE" ] && [ "$ASSIGNEE" != "$BOT_USER" ]; then
-      log "issue #${ISSUE_NUM} assigned to ${ASSIGNEE} — skipping (not orphaned)"
-      # Remove in-progress label since this agent isn't working on it
-      curl -sf -X DELETE -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-        "${API}/issues/${ISSUE_NUM}/labels/in-progress" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-      exit 0
-    fi
-
-    log "recovering orphaned issue #${ISSUE_NUM} (no PR found, assigned to ${BOT_USER:-unassigned})"
+    log "recovering orphaned issue #${ISSUE_NUM} (no PR found)"
     nohup "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dev-agent.sh" "$ISSUE_NUM" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
     log "started dev-agent PID $! for issue #${ISSUE_NUM} (recovery)"
     exit 0
diff --git a/lib/issue-lifecycle.sh b/lib/issue-lifecycle.sh
index 19c422d..df6a0ae 100644
--- a/lib/issue-lifecycle.sh
+++ b/lib/issue-lifecycle.sh
@@ -81,35 +81,11 @@ _ilc_in_progress_id()  { _ilc_ensure_label_id _ILC_IN_PROGRESS_ID "in-progress"
 _ilc_blocked_id()      { _ilc_ensure_label_id _ILC_BLOCKED_ID     "blocked"     "#e11d48"; }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# issue_claim — assign issue to bot, add "in-progress" label, remove "backlog".
+# issue_claim — add "in-progress" label, remove "backlog" label.
 # Args: issue_number
-# Returns: 0 on success, 1 if already assigned to another agent
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 issue_claim() {
   local issue="$1"
-
-  # Get current bot identity
-  local me
-  me=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${FORGE_URL}/api/v1/user" | jq -r '.login') || return 1
-
-  # Check current assignee
-  local current
-  current=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${FORGE_API}/issues/${issue}" | jq -r '.assignee.login // ""') || return 1
-
-  if [ -n "$current" ] && [ "$current" != "$me" ]; then
-    _ilc_log "issue #${issue} already assigned to ${current} — skipping"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  # Assign to self (Forgejo rejects if already assigned differently)
-  curl -sf -X PATCH \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-    "${FORGE_API}/issues/${issue}" \
-    -d "{\"assignees\":[\"${me}\"]}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || return 1
-
   local ip_id bl_id
   ip_id=$(_ilc_in_progress_id)
   bl_id=$(_ilc_backlog_id)
@@ -126,23 +102,14 @@ issue_claim() {
       "${FORGE_API}/issues/${issue}/labels/${bl_id}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
   fi
   _ilc_log "claimed issue #${issue}"
-  return 0
 }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# issue_release — remove "in-progress" label, add "backlog" label, clear assignee.
+# issue_release — remove "in-progress" label, add "backlog" label.
 # Args: issue_number
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 issue_release() {
   local issue="$1"
-
-  # Clear assignee
-  curl -sf -X PATCH \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-    "${FORGE_API}/issues/${issue}" \
-    -d '{"assignees":[]}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-
   local ip_id bl_id
   ip_id=$(_ilc_in_progress_id)
   bl_id=$(_ilc_backlog_id)
@@ -217,19 +184,11 @@ issue_block() {
 }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# issue_close — clear assignee, PATCH state to closed.
+# issue_close — PATCH state to closed.
 # Args: issue_number
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 issue_close() {
   local issue="$1"
-
-  # Clear assignee before closing
-  curl -sf -X PATCH \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-    "${FORGE_API}/issues/${issue}" \
-    -d '{"assignees":[]}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-
   curl -sf -X PATCH \
     -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \