In a contentious legal battle, the Town of Franklinton and its Mayor face allegations of employment discrimination brought by a former employee. Seena Chauvin filed the complaint on October 22, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the Town of Franklinton and Mayor Gregory Route. The lawsuit alleges various forms of employment discrimination that Chauvin claims have violated her rights.
According to the court documents, Seena Chauvin accuses her former employer, the Town of Franklinton, along with Mayor Gregory Route, of engaging in discriminatory practices during her tenure. The plaintiff's complaint outlines several instances where she believes her rights were infringed upon under employment law. While specific details of these alleged discriminatory acts are not disclosed in this particular document, it is clear that Chauvin feels aggrieved by actions she attributes to both defendants.
The defendants have responded robustly to these accusations through their legal counsel from Duplass APLC. They assert that Chauvin's complaint fails to establish a valid claim for relief and largely consists of "conclusory allegations." The defense team has outlined thirty-three affirmative defenses challenging the validity and substance of Chauvin’s claims. Among these defenses are assertions that any potential damages should be limited by statutory caps or mitigated by Chauvin’s own actions post-employment. Furthermore, they argue that no policies or practices leading to discrimination were in place and maintain that all actions taken were based on legitimate business reasons devoid of malice or reckless indifference.
Chauvin seeks judgment against the defendants for what she perceives as unlawful treatment during her employment. Her lawsuit aims to secure compensatory damages for lost wages and other related losses due to alleged discriminatory conduct. Additionally, she may be pursuing punitive damages if it can be demonstrated that there was malicious intent behind the defendants' actions.
Representing the defendants are attorneys Philip G. Watson and Linda H. Adams from Duplass APLC, who have requested a jury trial on all issues presented in this case. Presiding over this matter is Judge Sarah S. Vance with Magistrate Michael North assisting in proceedings under Case ID 2:24-cv-02485-SSV-MBN.