In a case filed in the First Circuit Court of Appeal, State of Louisiana (Case ID: 2023 CA 0874), Lamar Advertising of Louisiana, LLC has sued Media Choice, LLC, Acme Partnership, LP and the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge. The judgment was rendered on April 19, 2024. The plaintiff is represented by Michael D. Ferachi, Juston M. O’Brien and Zelma Murray Frederick while the defendants are represented by Brett P. Furr, William H. Patrick and David M. Lefeve.
The lawsuit revolves around a permit issued to Acme and/or its agents on December 20, 2018 by the City-Parish for constructing or installing a billboard at 12791 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810. By June 17, 2019, construction began but was halted when the City-Parish sent a letter on August 22 indicating that the permit had expired due to violation of ordinances or regulations.
The plaintiff argues that the permit was mistakenly issued to Acme or Media Choice prompting its revocation by the City-Parish. Lamar alleges that this move led to Acme's lawsuit against the City-Parish in an attempt to nullify a portion of Unified Development Code (UDC) and abolish Manchac Swamp Prohibited Area (MSPA) so they could erect their billboard in a prohibited area.
Lamar seeks an injunction against the City-Parish from issuing a permit for new sign construction in MSPA and against Acme and Media Choice from constructing any sign in MSPA which would violate Section 16.7.4(E)(h) of UDC. They claim irreparable injury would occur without this injunction as defendants are acting in violation of law.