The Lafayette Parish School Board could face contempt proceedings over its alleged failure to comply with a final court judgment ordering it to pay $47,000 in attorneys’ fees and court costs in the lawsuit over the closure of Comeaux High School.
The plaintiffs filed a rule to show cause on Nov. 4 in the 15th Judicial District Court, asking Judge Valerie Gotch Garrett to hold the school board guilty of contempt for failing to satisfy her May 2026 judgment.
Eight plaintiffs — Suzanne Lajaunie, Michael Satchell, Beth Haegele, Stacy Hammett, Brandy Hebert Warren, Victoria Story, Bridgett Lopez and Khalil Johnson — contend the board knowingly and willfully disregarded the court’s order. The plaintiffs were Comeaux High parents.
Louisiana law requires judgments against political subdivisions, like school boards, to be paid from funds specifically appropriated for that purpose. So far, no school board member has brought the matter to the rest of the board for a vote to appropriate the necessary funds.
According to the filing, the court awarded the plaintiffs $37,900 in attorney fees, $5,000 in court costs and $4,000 in litigation costs and $300 for the court reporter. The judgment, issued May 6 and signed May 20, also provided for interest. It required the school board to pay the award by May 29.
The underlying lawsuit stemmed from allegations the school board violated Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law in a March vote to close the high school.
In their court filing, the plaintiffs say their counsel repeatedly contacted the board’s attorneys seeking compliance, but the award remains unpaid.
When asked why the board hadn’t taken up the matter yet, District 7 board member Kate Labue tells The Current, “I cannot speak for the board,” and “the board will take action on the judgment when someone requests to add it to the agenda.”
Any board member, including Labue, could place an item to authorize payment of the court-ordered fees on the agenda.
Meanwhile, District 2 board member Ted Davidson, contacted in August about whether the board planned to appropriate the funds to satisfy the judgment, referred questions to the board’s legal counsel. Davidson, who had been serving on an interim basis, was elected to the seat on Nov. 3.
Superintendent Francis Touchet, too, referred to the attorneys.
“The Board’s legal counsel is aware of the filing and will advise the Board accordingly,” Touchet tells The Current via text message. “Because this matter involves pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Louisiana law allows a court to impose a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to three months, or both, for certain forms of contempt, according to the filing. The law also allows a court to award attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party in a contempt proceeding.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to find the school board guilty of constructive contempt, impose appropriate punishment and award additional attorneys’ fees and costs associated with bringing the contempt motion.
