Jerald Holmes, a former investigator and police officer, has filed a lawsuit alleging employment discrimination and retaliation against his previous employer. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on November 19, 2024, targeting the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East (SLFPA) and several of its agents.
Holmes claims that after serving with SLFPA since September 2017, he faced discriminatory practices and retaliatory actions following internal investigations involving senior officials. According to the lawsuit, Chandler, an executive director at SLFPA, had a past DWI offense that was not disclosed before her promotion. This information came to light through a DEA task force investigation led by Chief Kerry Najolia. Following Najolia's termination for allegedly undermining Chandler's authority, Holmes found himself transferred to night shifts without clear justification—a move perceived as punitive within the department.
Holmes further alleges that he was promised a leadership role in an investigative unit by Chandler but never received it. Instead, this position went to a white officer. He also recounts being tasked with identifying officers who accessed Chandler’s records unlawfully—a situation that led to media exposure of her past offenses.
The lawsuit details how Holmes was subjected to disparate treatment compared to his white colleagues. Investigations into him and other black officers were conducted by an all-white team lacking proper investigative experience. These investigations often disregarded procedural norms and disproportionately targeted black officers over alleged minor infractions.
Holmes is seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress, back pay, front pay, and coverage of legal expenses. He has requested a jury trial to resolve these allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Representing Holmes is attorney Kevin P. Klibert from Klibert & Christina Law Firm. The case has been assigned Case ID 2:24-cv-02707 in the Eastern District of Louisiana court system.