NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana woman is suing Jefferson Parish and the parish sheriff and deputy sheriff, alleging false arrest and defamation.
Catheryn Babin filed a lawsuit April 11 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Jefferson Parish, deputy sheriff Micah P. Blange and sheriff Newell Normand, alleging they violated the Fourth and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
According to the complaint, on April 11, 2015, Babin received a criminal misdemeanor summons for alleged cruelty to an animal when she left her dog in her car to purchase dog food. As a result, the suit says, Babin suffered emotional and mental distress, damage to her reputation and attorney fees incurred in the defense of the criminal charges.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants unlawfully seized her without probable cause, intentionally misrepresented key facts concerning the incident and issued false and defamatory statements.
Babin seeks a trial by jury, compensation for damages, attorney fees, legal costs and all other relief deemed equitable. She is represented by attorney Brett J. Prendergast of New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Case number 2:16-cv-02954