A St. Lafourche Parish couple brought a lawsuit against their municipal employer and several individuals for an alleged civil rights violation in 2014.
Dianne Robertson and Darrell Everett filed a claim against the city of Thibodaux; Chief of Police Scott Silverii; Officer Eddie Rodrigue; Sheriff Craig Webre; and an unnamed deputy on March 30 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana discrimination.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants invaded the plaintiffs’ home on July 16, 2014. The complaint claims that the officers kicked the door down; forced Everett to the ground, injuring his back and shoulder; and threw Robertson to the floor and handcuffed her.
Robertson and Everett accuse the police department of failing to properly train their employees in handling aggressive situations. The couple claim counts of assault, negligence, intentional infliction of injury; false arrest and imprisonment without consent; negligent hiring; and violation of their rights otherwise guaranteed by state and federal law.
The plaintiffs seek more than $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney’s fees, expenses and costs. They are represented by Shannon Battiste of Port Allen.
U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana, case no. 2:15-cv-00966.
Couple seeks $1 million from city and law enforcement officials over alleged wrongful arrest
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