NEW ORLEANS — An African-American man is suing the parish of Plaquemines and other government entities, alleging they violated his civil rights by arresting him unlawfully.
Andrew Jason III filed a lawsuit April 3 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the parish of Plaquemines, the Plaquemines Parish Sheriiff's Office, deputy Christopher Thomas and the Plaquemines District Attorneys' Office, alleging they violated the laws of the United States and provisions in the Louisiana Constitution.
According to the complaint, April 3, 2015, Jason was involved in a vehicular accident where he was rear-ended by a car operated by Loc X. Nguyen. At all times, the suit says, Jason's 6-year-old son Bryson was a passenger in his vehicle.
The lawsuit states Thomas administered a sobriety test to the plaintiff and reported that he "failed to properly perform." Jason then was brought to sheriff headquarters for suspicion of violation of operating while intoxicated and child endangerment, the complaint states.
Jason says he voluntarily took an alcohol analyzer test, and tested lower than the required score for DUI. He then was required to attend numerous court appearances that resulted in the temporary loss of his driving privileges, the lawsuit says, until the state of Louisiana was presented with test results. The state reinstated Jason and dismissed the charges, the suit says.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants, despite Jason passing the alcohol analyzer test, still arrested, booked, fingerprinted and detained him for the entire weekend, until his family obtained his release.
Jason seeks trial by jury, compensation for punitive damages and all sums reasonable, attorney fees and costs. He is represented by attorneys Julien F. Jurgens in Metairie,, and Hilary G. Gaudin of Gaudin & Gaudin in Gretna.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-02728