INDReporter

Davis seeks to expedite lawsuit against LPSB

by Leslie Turk

The application is for a preliminary injunction hearing to bring an end to the stalemate over this year's budget approval process.

An application to expedite the lawsuit against the Lafayette Parish School Board was filed in federal court today (Monday).

Photo by Robin May

Greg Davis

The application is for a preliminary injunction hearing to bring an end to the stalemate over this year's budget approval process. The lawsuit is asking the courts to force the school board to utilize a state law that allows public bodies to use up to 50 percent of a previous year's budget until a new budget can be passed.

The application also addresses the board's refusal to discuss the lawsuit during an executive session slated for last week's board meeting as testament to the need for a court intervention, and includes comments from board members Mark Allen Babineaux and Tehmi Chassion, both named as defendants in the suit:

Babineaux and Chassion voted against the executive session and for the immediate termination of the meeting. They have publically characterized the Plaintiff's attempt to resolve matters without the necessity of filing this Complaint as extortion' [Babineaux] and legal blackmail' [Chassion]. These votes and the related comments document the fact that the issues raised in the Complaint will not be resolved without a decision of this Court thus necessitating a hearing.

The application was filed Monday afternoon by attorney Gary McGoffin on behalf of Cajundome Director and longtime school system advocate Greg Davis, and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Richard Haik.

A preliminary injunction hearing ultimately speeds up the process, and will allow for the introduction of evidence and live witnesses.

Read more on this story here and here.