A dramatic legal battle unfolds as two former pest control operators allege a scheme of deceit and corruption that destroyed their livelihoods. On March 17, 2025, Michael Anthony Cripps and John David Cripps filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against David M. Fields, accusing him of fraud on the court.
The case centers around allegations that David Fields, formerly an Assistant Director at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, along with Paul Adams, used their positions to eliminate competition from the Cripps' businesses. The plaintiffs operated successful pest control services across several parishes in Louisiana until 1998 when they secured a significant contract with England Oaks Senior Living Community. However, they claim that Adams, who owned a competing pest control company and was also a member of the Structural Pest Control Commission (SPCC), orchestrated false charges against them to revoke their licenses. These charges included operating without proper permits and failing to report contracts accurately.
Michael and John Cripps argue that these actions were part of a broader conspiracy to monopolize the pest control market in Alexandria, Louisiana. They assert that evidence crucial to their defense was deliberately concealed during earlier litigation processes. In particular, audio recordings from SPCC meetings that could have supported their claims were not disclosed until after their initial lawsuit was dismissed by summary judgment in 2014—a decision upheld by both the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and denied review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for lost income and reputational harm, punitive damages against Fields for his alleged malicious conduct, as well as attorney fees and litigation costs. They contend that Fields' actions deprived them of due process rights under 42 U.S.C § 1983 by manipulating proceedings within the SPCC to favor Adams' business interests over theirs.
Represented by J. Arthur Smith III from Smith Law Firm in Baton Rouge, Michael and John Cripps demand a jury trial to address these grievances. They aim to reopen their case based on newly discovered evidence indicating fraud on the court perpetrated by Fields and potentially others involved in prior litigations.
The case is presided over by Judge Brian A. Jackson with Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes assisting. The legal saga continues under Case ID: 3:25-cv-00229-BAJ-EWD as both sides prepare for what promises to be an intense courtroom showdown.