News & Case Studies

Mom Files Federal Lawsuit in Son’s Wrongful Death from Taser LAFAYETTE — The mother of Javon Rakestrau has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the 28-year-old suffered a fatal asthma attack in October 2010 after a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy shocked him with a taser. A forensic pathologist ruled in February that Rakestrau died from complications… Read More »Wrongful Death from Taser

Video: Inmate thrown on ground, attacked by dog, stomped on by Iberia Parish deputy in shocking surveillance footage Sheriff says deputy since fired; tape subpoenaed as part of federal probe It was Dec. 6, 2012, and Marcus Robicheaux, like the other inmates at the Iberia Parish Jail, was standing with his hands on his head… Read More »Iberia Parish Inmate Abuse Footage

Iberia Parish Sheriff Seeks FBI Investigation of Inmate Death at Jail NEW IBERIA — Criminal charges were never filed in the 2009 inmate death of Iberia Parish inmate Michael Jones. Sheriff Louis Ackal is now asking the FBI to investigate the case after a judge ruled excessive force led to Jones’ death. In the civil… Read More »Inmate Death at Jail

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal Charged in Inmate Assault Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Savoy were charged today with civil rights violations. Charges stem from the April 29, 2011 beatings of five pre-trail detainees at the Iberia Parish Jail. Ackal and Savoy are the most recent and highest-ranking members of the… Read More »Ackal Charged in Inmate Assault

Fresenius Reaches $250 Million GranuFlo Settlement On February 22, 2016, it was announced that Fresenius Medical Care reached an agreement to set aside $250 million to settle claims stemming from their GranuFlo and Naturalyte dialysis concentrates. GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are medications used on dialysis patients undergoing treatment for kidney disease and renal failure during dialysis… Read More »$250 Million GranuFlo Settlement

Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Felony Sex Offense of Juvenile Student Paula Latiolais Pleads No Contest to Sex Offense Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile NEW IBERIA, LA – According to documents maintained in the public record Paula Latiolais pleads no contest to the sex offense, Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. The former Catholic… Read More »Teacher Pleads Guilty

Former New Iberia Teacher Arrested on Molestation Charge LAFAYETTE — A 25-year-old man said Monday that he is the victim of the former Catholic High-New Iberia teacher. Paula Latiolais was arrested last week and accused of the molestation of a male students 10 years ago. Phillip LeBourgeois said he was a minor attending Catholic High-New Iberia… Read More »Teacher Molestation Charge

Former Iberia Parish jail warden files ‘whistleblower’ suit The suit alleges firing due to complaints The former warden of the Iberia Parish Jail alleges he was fired last year for complaining about inmate beatings and reporting other wrongdoing by deputies that included theft and forgery. Wesley Hayes, who served as warden from December 2009 to… Read More »Warden Files Whistleblower Lawsuit

Sheriff’s Office Accused of Falsification of Records and Unwanted Contact LAFAYETTE, LA – November 16, 2015: Lawsuit Filed Against Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Alleging Falsification of Records and Unwanted Contact The Petition for Damages has been filed against Lafayette Parish Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom and a Lieutenant of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. The Law Office… Read More »Sheriff’s Office Accused