In a harrowing case that raises significant concerns about the treatment of inmates and adherence to safety protocols, a family has filed a lawsuit against multiple entities associated with the Slidell City Jail. The complaint was filed by Chad Brewer and Abigail Brewer on behalf of their minor children and the estate of Theresa Zar in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on November 15, 2024. The defendants include the City of Slidell, Slidell City Jail, Slidell Police Department, Chief of Police Randall Fandal, and several correctional officers.
The lawsuit arises from events leading to the tragic death of Theresa Zar on November 21, 2023, while she was detained at the Slidell City Jail. According to the plaintiffs, Zar died from fentanyl intoxication after drugs were smuggled into the jail by another inmate. The complaint alleges that despite surveillance footage showing Zar acquiring and consuming drugs, corrections officers failed to intervene or provide assistance for an alarming sixteen hours. The plaintiffs argue that this failure constitutes a breach of duty and deliberate indifference to Zar's safety and well-being.
The plaintiffs claim violations under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988 for civil rights infringements related to inadequate medical care and failure to protect Zar from harm. They assert that corrections officers neglected mandatory cell checks every fifteen to twenty minutes as per standard operating procedures, opting instead for visual inspections via surveillance cameras. This deviation from protocol allegedly contributed directly to Zar's death.
Furthermore, the complaint highlights systemic issues within the Slidell City Jail's management practices. It accuses Chief Randall Fandal and other officials of failing to enforce proper training and supervision policies for corrections officers. The plaintiffs contend that these failures created an environment where illicit drugs could be smuggled into the facility unchecked, ultimately leading to Zar's fatal overdose.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for pain and suffering endured by Zar before her death, as well as punitive damages against individual defendants in their personal capacities. Additionally, it calls for attorney fees under federal statutes due to alleged civil rights violations.
Representing Chad Brewer and Abigail Brewer are attorneys Daryl A. Gray, Eric A. Wright, and Laci N. Hamilton from Wright Gray Harris law firm based in New Orleans. The case is being overseen by a judge whose name has not been disclosed in public records available thus far under Case ID: 2:24-cv-02689.