Michelle S. Parker has filed a defamation lawsuit, claiming that her reputation and mental health have been severely damaged by false statements made against her. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on January 9, 2025, with Mellowdee Quinney Tibbs named as the defendant.
According to the court documents, Michelle S. Parker alleges that Mellowdee Quinney Tibbs engaged in a series of defamatory actions aimed at tarnishing her reputation both personally and professionally. Parker accuses Tibbs of making false and malicious statements to her manager and others, which she claims led to significant harm to her personal and business reputation. These allegations are grounded in Louisiana Civil Code Article § 2315.6 (2023), which addresses damages caused by another's fault.
Parker further contends that Tibbs's actions resulted in public humiliation through alienation and isolation within her professional environment. She describes an incident where Tibbs publicly announced that she was being moved from her original desk to a "hoteling" space, under the pretense that it was an office-wide move when it was not. This action, according to Parker, violated the Louisiana Human Rights Act by subjecting her to ridicule and isolation.
The emotional toll of these events has been profound for Parker, who reports suffering from undue stress, anxiety, and depression as a direct result of Tibbs's relentless false accusations and public humiliation. She recounts how this situation forced her into a grueling commute from New Orleans to Alexandria five days a week, causing financial strain due to travel expenses amounting to $500 weekly.
Additionally, Parker accuses Tibbs of making false statements to her personal references about job conditions—misleading her into believing she could work from home without commuting—which she argues placed her life in imminent danger due to excessive travel demands.
In response to these grievances, Parker is seeking several forms of relief from the court. She requests a formal injunction against Tibbs to prevent any further defamatory actions or statements that could harm her character or professional standing. Furthermore, she seeks compensatory damages totaling $50,000 plus court costs for the emotional distress and reputational damage suffered due to Tibbs's actions. Additionally, Parker is asking for punitive damages intended to deter similar conduct by Tibbs or others in the future.
The case is currently pending before an unnamed judge in the Western District of Louisiana under Case ID 1:25-cv-0050. The legal representation details for both parties remain unspecified within the document provided.