Source: https://fr.scribd.com/document/49885461/Paul-Smith-v-Jefferson-Parish-John-Young-et-al-Complaint
Timestamp: 2020-02-20 10:45:10
Document Index: 14116806

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1331', '§ 1983', '§ 1367', '§ 2', '§\n16', '§ 1983', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1983', '§ 1988']

Paul Smith v Jefferson Parish, John Young, et al: Complaint | Diversity Jurisdiction | Lawsuit
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Case 2:11-cv-00488-HGB-ALC
Filed 03/01/11
JEFFERSON PARISH; JEFFERSON PARISH EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL SERVICE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT; AND JOHN F. YOUNG, JR. (IN HIS OFFICIAL AND INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES)
Plaintiff Paul Smith (“Smith”), through undersigned counsel, brings this complaint
against Defendants for federal Constitutional violations, state Constitutional violations, and
violations of various state laws, as stated herein:
1. Jurisdiction is conferred on this Court by 28 U.S.C. § 1331. The claims brought
by Plaintiff include violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to
the United States Constitution. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction of all remaining claims
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, including claims for violations of Article I, § 2 and Article X, §
16 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana.
2. Smith is an adult resident of Jefferson Parish who was employed by the Jefferson
3. Jefferson Parish is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, which can sue
or be sued. It is the “governing authority” that has created and maintains the District.
4. The District is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana established and
maintained by operation of Louisiana law, La. R.S. 40:1491, et seq., and by ordinance adopted
by the Council of Jefferson Parish as a “special fire district,” which can sue or be sued.
5. Named defendant herein in his official and individual capacities is John Young.
Young is an adult resident of Jefferson Parish. Young is the Jefferson Parish President, a local
government official with final policymaking authority for Jefferson Parish. Young was acting
under color of state law at all relevant times.
6. This action seeks declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983
and state law from acts of the defendants against the plaintiff which deprived him of his
7. At all times relevant hereto, Paul Smith alleges that he had a property interest in
his continued employment for the following reasons:
a) A permanent classified civil service employee has a protected property interest in his job in Louisiana. Wallace v. Shreve Memorial Library, 97 F.3d 746 (5 th Cir. 1996).
b) Louisiana law requires the Fire District to adopt a classified service among its paid fire service employees, including its fire chief. Louisiana Constitution, Article X, Section 16; La. R.S. 33:2531 et seq.
c) Jefferson Parish, by ordinance, created the at-will position of Director of Fire. Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances Section 2-211 of Part II, Chapter 2, Article V, Division 7. The Director of Fire performs the job duties of a Fire Chief, which is a classified civil service position. La. R.S.
33:2541(A)(1).
d) Smith was employed as Director of Fire until February 4,
2011. Because the position of Director of Fire is equivalent
to Fire Chief, Smith was a permanent classified civil service employee.
8. Smith was employed by the District as Director of Fire.
commenced on April 4, 2009 and was terminated on February 4, 2011.
Smith’s position, Fire
Chief/Director of Fire, was a classified civil service position under Louisiana law.
9. The District has been, at material times, subject to the mandate of Article X,
Section 16 of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution and enabling legislation, La. R.S. 33:2531, et seq.,
obligating it to implement and administer a “classified service” among its paid fire service
employees, including its fire chief.
R.S. 33:2471, et seq. mandated the District to establish a
classification plan for the employment, promotion and related conditions of employment among
its fire service employees, including its chief; to establish a fire civil service board to supervise
the classification plan; and most importantly, to hear and determine employee appeals after
disciplinary action taken by the District.
In short, the District is constitutionally and statutorily
required to establish and maintain a fire civil service system for the benefit of its fire service
10. Jefferson Parish Council, by ordinance, created the position of Director of Fire.
Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances § 2-211 of Part II, Chapter 2, Article V, Division 7.
Director of Fire is appointed by the parish president with the approval of the Jefferson Parish
Id. at § 2-212.
The Director of Fire performs the job duties of a Fire Chief, which is
required to be allocated to the classified service pursuant to La. R.S. 33:2541(A)(1). This official
policy deprives the Fire Chief of the benefits of civil service classification, in violation of
Louisiana law. Jefferson Parish, acting through its President and its Council, has unlawfully
accorded “at will” employment status to Smith.
Notwithstanding Defendants’ attempts to
remove civil service protection for Smith, Smith attained permanent classified status. “[A]
governmental employer’s failure to comply with Civil Service requirements does not preclude its
employees from obtaining permanent classified status.” Wallace v. Shreve Memorial Library, 97
F.3d 746 (5 th Cir. 1996).
11. Pursuant to the ordinance, an official policy of the Parish, Jefferson Parish
President John Young summarily terminated Smith’s employment on February 4, 2011. Young
gave Smith no explanation for the termination. Smith was terminated without notice and an
opportunity to be heard, and for no stated cause.
12. At no time was Smith provided any form of a pre-disciplinary conference or
13. Moreover, the defendant ignored the mandates of the Louisiana Fire Service
Employee Bill of Rights, La. R.S. 33:2181 et seq., which covered Smith’s employment as a “fire
employee,” by failing to inform him of any investigation into his status as a permanent classified
employee and by failing to provide him with the other due process protections under the Bill of
14. Smith was not notified of or afforded any meaningful opportunity to appeal his
termination to a civil service board, as required by law.
15. On February 14, 2011, Smith nevertheless attempted to appeal his termination to
the Jefferson Parish East Bank Consolidated Fire Protection District Civil Service Board.
16. The defendants have thus violated plaintiff’s Constitutional rights in the following
a) By terminating him without cause in spite of his substantive due process right under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution to be terminated only for cause;
b) By failing to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard in spite of his procedural due process right under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 542 (1985);
c) By terminating him without cause in spite of his substantive due process rights under Article I, § 2 of the Louisiana Constitution to be terminated only for cause, and in spite of his related right under Article X, Section 16 of the Louisiana Constitution to be terminated only for legal cause; and
d) By failing to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard in spite of his procedural due process rights under Article I, § 2 and Article X, Section 16 of the Louisiana Constitution.
17. Defendants denied Smith Constitutional due process guaranteed him by operation
of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 2 of
the 1974 Louisiana Constitution and the Louisiana Fire Service Employees Bill of Rights when
he was terminated by the District on February 4, 2011 without notice, without any form of pre-
disciplinary process, and without affording him access to a civil service appeal.
afforded no pre-termination or post-termination due process protections.
Defendants are liable
for these Constitutional violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law.
18. A public employee who has a property interest in his job cannot be fired without
classified civil service employee has a protected property interest in his job in Louisiana.
Wallace, 97 F.3d at 748.
19. In addition to the pre-termination protections of notice and an opportunity to be
prompt post-termination proceedings.
Because Plaintiff has been provided no post-termination
proceeding, these due process protections have been violated in this case.
20. Pursuant to an official policy of the local government body, Defendants Jefferson
Parish and Young (in his official capacity), deprived Smith of his property interest and liberty
interest in employment without pre-termination or post-termination Constitutional due process.
This deprivation also violates the Louisiana Constitution and Louisiana law.
21. By terminating Smith’s employment, Defendants Jefferson Parish and Young (in
his official capacity), directly deprived Smith of his property and liberty interest in employment
without his pre-termination or post-termination Constitutional due process. This deprivation also
violates the Louisiana Constitution and Louisiana law.
22. Defendants Jefferson Parish and Young (in his official capacity), acted with
deliberate indifference to the need for due process protections for the position of Fire Chief.
capacity), deprived Smith of his property and liberty interests in employment without pre-
termination or post-termination Constitutional due process rights. Young was acting under color
of state law. This deprivation also violates Louisiana law.
24. Defendant Young, in his official and individual capacities, acted under color of
State law to deprive Smith of his rights, privileges, and immunities secured by the United States
Constitution, the Louisiana Constitution, and Louisiana law.
25. Defendants are liable to Smith for damages for the deprivation of Smith’s
reinstatement to the position of Chief.
27. Smith prays for back pay and restoration of all emoluments of his employment
lost as a result of his unlawful termination.
28. Smith prays for damages to compensate him for the mental distress and anxiety he
has suffered as a direct result of Defendants’ unlawful acts.
30. Smith prays for attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
31. Smith prays for punitive damages.
VI. JURY TRIAL
Smith prays for trial by jury.
WHEREFORE, Smith prays for the relief requested after trial and for all other legal or
equitable relief deemed necessary by this Honorable Court.
LOUIS L. ROBEIN (LA BAR NO. 11307) CHRISTINA L. CARROLL (LA BAR NO. 29789) 2540 Severn Ave., Suite 400 (70002) Post Office Box 6768
Telephone: 504.885.9994 Facsimile: 504.885.9969 Email: lrobein@ruspclaw.com ccarroll@ruspclaw.com Attorney for Plaintiff, Paul Smith
70009-6768
Jefferson Parish East Bank Consolidated
Special Service Fire Protection District through Joseph R. Greco, Jr., Director
Suite 704 Jefferson, Louisiana 70123
John Young (in his official capacity) Joseph F. Yenni Building
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., 10 th Floor
John Young (in his individual capacity) Joseph F. Yenni Building
through its Parish President, John Young Joseph F. Yenni Building
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE OF THE FORM )
(IN U S PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF THE LAND INVOLVED
Federal Question (U S Government Not a Party)
’ 110 Insurance
’ 120 Marine
’ 310 Airplane
’ 315 Airplane Product
Med Malpractice 365 Personal Injury -
’ 625 Drug Related Seizure of Property 21 USC 881
’ 320 Assault, Libel & Slander
Product Liability 368 Asbestos Personal
’ 630 Liquor Laws
’ 640 R R & Truck
’ 330 Federal Employers’
’ 650 Airline Regs
152 Recovery of Defaulted Student Loans (Excl Veterans)
’ 660 Occupational Safety/Health
’ 340 Marine
’ 345 Marine Product
370 Other Fraud 371 Truth in Lending
’ 810 Selective Service
153 Recovery of Overpayment of Veteran’s Benefits
’ 350 Motor Vehicle
’ 710 Fair Labor Standards Act
’ 160 Stockholders’ Suits
’ 355 Motor Vehicle
Property Damage 385 Property Damage
’ 190 Other Contract
’ 720 Labor/Mgmt Relations
’ 360 Other Personal
’ 730 Labor/Mgmt Reporting & Disclosure Act
’ 892 Economic Stabilization Act
’ 210 Land Condemnation
’ 441 Voting
870 Taxes (U S Plaintiff
’ 220 Foreclosure
’ 791 Empl Ret Inc Security Act
’ 894 Energy Allocation Act
’ 230 Rent Lease & Ejectment
’ 443 Housing/
’ 444 Welfare
’ 900Appeal of Fee Determination Under Equal Access to Justice
’ 445 Amer w/Disabilities - Employment
’ 463 Habeas Corpus -
’ 446 Amer w/Disabilities - Other
’ 950 Constitutionality of State Statutes
’ 465 Other Immigration Actions
’ CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION UNDER F.R.C.P. 23
the full name or standard abbreviations. If the plaintiff or defendant is an official within a government agency, identify first the agency and then the official, giving both name and title.
to enable the deputy clerk or the statistical clerks in the Administrative Office to determine the nature of suit. If the cause fits more than one nature of suit, select the most definitive.
U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 704
are the United States or a United States agency, or an officer or employee of the United States described in Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (a)(2) or (3) — you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or a motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The answer or motion must be served on the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney,
2540 Severn Ave., Suite 400
Metiairie, Louisiana 70002
Jefferson Parish through its Parish President, John Young Joseph F. Yenni Building 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., 10th Floor Jefferson, Louisiana 70123
Louis L. Robein Robein, Urann, Spencer, Picard & Cangemi 2540 Severn Ave., Suite 400 Metiairie, Louisiana 70002
John Young (in his individual capacity) Joseph F. Yenni Building 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., 10th Floor Jefferson, Louisiana 70123
John Young (in his official capacity) Joseph F. Yenni Building 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., 10th Floor Jefferson, Louisiana 70123
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