Mayor Cantrell faces federal civil rights lawsuit

In the lawsuit, Breaud accuses Cantrell of violating her civil rights by defaming her and providing false information in a protective order the mayor had taken out against Breaud. The order was revoked, but sensitive information about Breaud was made public before it was revoked, including her Social Security number, an old photo of her driver’s license and an expunged arrest record.

According to the lawsuit, “LaToya W. Cantrell and certain of the defendants – police officers and employees of the City of New Orleans – violated federal and state law to obtain plaintiff’s personal information, including, but not limited to, plaintiff’s personal information.

not limited to her date of birth, her full Social Security number, and a dated photograph (late 80s/early 90s) that appears to be from the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles. In addition to obtaining this private personal information, Defendant Cantrell and other Defendants falsely obtained a criminal record on Breaud, including a 2016 arrest of Breaud in Assumption Parish, Louisiana, related to an alleged domestic violence incident.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Cantrell’s statements that she was followed or otherwise harassed by Breaud in the incident report filed with the New Orleans Police Department were false. “These statements are false and demonstrate actual malice on the part of Defendant Cantrell. She acted in reckless disregard for the truth,” the court documents state.

The lawsuit also alleges that Cantrell abused her position to silence Breaud’s constitutionally protected speech.

The lawsuit states: “While Cantrell falsely portrayed himself as the victim of a pattern of stalking, intimidation and harassment by Breaud, it is Cantrell who engaged in a pattern of intimidation and character assassination against Breaud, an individual who was falsely accused by Cantrell of stalking solely because Breaud took a photograph of Cantrell and Vappie in a compromising position.”

Mayor Cantrell’s spokesperson released the following statement to Axios regarding the lawsuit and the various allegations: “The City of New Orleans will not comment at this time due to the ongoing nature of this litigation. Our position will be communicated in our response to the petition.”

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