NEW ORLEANS – Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office employees allege that their First Amendment rights were violated by the current sheriff.
Bryan Moore, Clifford Keen, David Hanson Sr., Robert Juge Jr., et al. filed a complaint on May 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Randy Smith, individually and in his official capacity as St. Tammany Parish sheriff, alleging violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that they publicly supported the re-election campaign of Rodney Strain, the previous sheriff. They allege the defendant allegedly refused to renew their commissions because they supported Strain’s campaign and re-election effort.
The plaintiffs hold Smith responsible because the defendant allegedly violated their right to freedom of political speech.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendant in an amount to compensate plaintiffs for all damages, penalties, interest, costs and attorney’s fees and all other relief as the court may deem just and proper. They are represented by Larry E. Demmons of Demmons Law Firm LLC in Metairie.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:17-cv-05219