Heath A. Leet has filed a lawsuit against Tim Cotone, Kaila Chipman, The Parish of Iberia, Iberia Parish Sheriff Department, Louis M. Ackal and Thomas S. Romero in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Case 6:24-cv-00586-DCJ-DJA) on May 3rd, 2024. The case revolves around an alleged civil rights violation related to the death of Jessica Morgan due to drug overdose.
The incident took place on December 18th, 2018 when deputies from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (IPSO) investigated Jessica's death which was determined to be caused by an acute methamphetamine and heroin overdose. The plaintiff Heath Leet had allowed Taylor Maturin to live in his trailer home where she, Chad Viator and Jessica were reportedly using controlled substances leading up to Jessica's death.
Upon investigation, IPSO deputies concluded that Taylor provided Jessica with the drugs that resulted in her fatal overdose. Both Taylor and Chad were present after Jessica became distressed but failed to obtain medical help or notify authorities. They also attempted to dispose of drug paraphernalia that could link them to Jessica's death.
Leet is seeking damages against the defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for wrongful incarceration, false arrest, false imprisonment, aggravated kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, perjury among other violations of his civil rights as well as punitive damages under 42 U.S.C. §1983 and attorneys’ fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1888.