INDReporter

Rubin denies TRO in LHA case, sets Oct. 8 hearing

by Leslie Turk

State District Judge Ed Rubin has denied dismissed Lafayette Housing Authority board members' effort to stop City-Parish President Joey Durel from appointing new board members.

State District Judge Ed Rubin denied dismissed Lafayette Housing Authority board members' effort to stop City-Parish President Joey Durel from appointing new board members.

Rubin set a hearing for Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. to settle the issue of whether the board members were properly removed, including whether they are entitled to a new appeal in front of the City-Parish Council. The hearing had initially been set for Nov. 8.

On Thursday the three former board members sought a restraining order "until the charge made against them for their removal has been proven and upheld as provide [sic] by law." They took legal action last week against Durel and the council after council members voted 6-2 to uphold Durel's dismissal of them.

Of the five board members Durel dismissed in August, Joe Dennis, John Freeman, Leon Simmons are the only ones fighting to get their jobs back. Durel removed five of the board members - one resigned for health reasons and another, Donald Fuselier, is being retained - after an audit raised serious questions about how the LHA conducts its business and led to a federal investigation of the housing authority. The board was not accused of any wrongdoing; Durel removed them because they were negligent in their responsibilities as board members.

Read more about the LHA's troubles here.