Case: Hardnett v. City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge

3:23-cv-01393 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Sept. 29, 2023

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case involved a class action lawsuit brought by individuals who were strip-searched and taken into custody without probable cause and without reasonable suspicion by the Baton Rouge Police Department. On September 29, 2023, an individual plaintiff filed this lawsuit against the City of Baton Rouge and the Chief of the Baton Rouge Police Department, in his official capacity, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. The plaintiff alleged violations of the Fourth Amend…

This case involved a class action lawsuit brought by individuals who were strip-searched and taken into custody without probable cause and without reasonable suspicion by the Baton Rouge Police Department. On September 29, 2023, an individual plaintiff filed this lawsuit against the City of Baton Rouge and the Chief of the Baton Rouge Police Department, in his official capacity, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. The plaintiff alleged violations of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages to each member of the proposed class, a declaratory judgment declaring the defendant’s policy unconstitutional, and a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining the defendant from continuing their policy. The plaintiff was represented by private counsel. 

The plaintiff alleged that the Baton Rouge Police Department maintained a policy and/or practice of strip-searching individuals who had not been arrested. They alleged that the defendants strip searched individuals prior to establishing probable cause to bring criminal charges and do so to serve the purpose of obtaining evidence to be used against the individual.

As of December 25, 2023, this case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Andrew Eslich (12/25/2023)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67841175/parties/hardnett-v-city-of-baton-rouge-parish-of-east-baton-rouge/


Judge(s)

Jackson, Brian Anthony (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Haley, Ronald S. (Louisiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Griffin, Gillian Bernice (Louisiana)

Philips, Harry Joseph (Louisiana)

Walsh, Michael Sean (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:23-cv-01393

Complaint (Complete Case Opening First)

Sept. 29, 2023

Sept. 29, 2023

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67841175/hardnett-v-city-of-baton-rouge-parish-of-east-baton-rouge/

Last updated March 10, 2025, 10:02 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against CITY OF BATON ROUGE-PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, MURPHY PAUL in his capacity as Chief of Police for City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number BLAMDC-2644493.), filed by BOBBY HARDNETT. (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Attachment Summons, # 3 Summons)(Haley, Ronald) (Attachments 1-3 replaced on 10/2/2023) (EDC). Modified on 10/2/2023 to flatten documents. (EDC). (Entered: 09/29/2023)

1 Attachment Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Attachment Summons

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3 Summons

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Sept. 29, 2023

Sept. 29, 2023

RECAP
2

Summons Issued as to City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge, MURPHY PAUL in his capacity as Chief of Police for City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge. (NOTICE: Counsel shall print and serve both the summons and all attachments in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4.) (Attachments: # 1 summons)(EDC) (Entered: 10/02/2023)

Oct. 2, 2023

Oct. 2, 2023

PACER
3

NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY with LR 7.1 as to 1 Complaint. Failure to file a Certificate of Interested Persons REQUIRED CORRECTION: Within one business day, the filer shall file a Certificate of Interested Persons and the interested persons shall be added to CM/ECF by the filer using the event Certificate of Interested Persons. (EDC) (Entered: 10/02/2023)

Oct. 2, 2023

Oct. 2, 2023

PACER
4

Certificate of Interested Persons by Bobby Hardnett identifying Affiliate/Interested Person Baton Rouge Police Department for Bobby Hardnett. (Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 10/03/2023)

Oct. 3, 2023

Oct. 3, 2023

PACER
5

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER: Telephone Scheduling Conference set for 12/28/2023 at 11:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson. Status Report due by 12/14/2023. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 10/11/2023. (KAH) (Entered: 10/11/2023)

Oct. 11, 2023

Oct. 11, 2023

PACER
6

MOTION to Enroll Michael S. Walsh as Attorney by Murphy Paul (Walsh, Michael) (Entered: 11/06/2023)

Nov. 6, 2023

Nov. 6, 2023

PACER

Order on Motion to Enroll as Attorney

Nov. 7, 2023

Nov. 7, 2023

PACER

MOTION(S) REFERRED: 6 MOTION to Enroll Michael S. Walsh as Attorney . This motion is now pending before the USMJ. (EDC)

Nov. 7, 2023

Nov. 7, 2023

PACER
7

Certificate of Interested Persons by Murphy Paul. (Walsh, Michael) (Entered: 11/07/2023)

Nov. 7, 2023

Nov. 7, 2023

PACER
8

ORDER granting 6 Motion to Enroll as Attorney. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 11/7/2023. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.) (KAH) (Entered: 11/07/2023)

Nov. 7, 2023

Nov. 7, 2023

PACER
9

ORDER: The Telephone Scheduling Conference is reset for 1/31/2024 at 09:30 AM before Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson. Status Report now due by 1/17/2024. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 12/26/2023. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.)(KAH) (Entered: 12/26/2023)

Dec. 26, 2023

Dec. 26, 2023

PACER

1 - Terminate Deadlines and Hearings AND Order AND ~Util - Set Deadlines/Hearings

Dec. 26, 2023

Dec. 26, 2023

PACER
10

ORDER: The telephone scheduling conference set for January 31, 2024, is hereby RESET for February 21, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. The deadline for filing a Joint Status Report is RESET to February 8, 2024. Failure to file the Joint Status Report may result in a show cause order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 1/19/2024. (KAH) (Entered: 01/19/2024)

Jan. 19, 2024

Jan. 19, 2024

PACER
11

MOTION to Enroll Grant L. Willis as Additional Attorney by Murphy Paul (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Pleading; Order)(Walsh, Michael) (Entered: 01/31/2024)

Jan. 31, 2024

Jan. 31, 2024

PACER

MOTION(S) REFERRED: 11 MOTION to Enroll Grant L. Willis as Additional Attorney . This motion is now pending before the USMJ. (EDC)

Feb. 1, 2024

Feb. 1, 2024

PACER
12

ORDER granting 11 Motion to Enroll Additional Attorney. Added attorney Grant Lloyd Willis for Murphy Paul. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 2/5/2024. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.) (KAH) (Entered: 02/05/2024)

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

PACER

Order on Motion to Enroll Additional Attorney

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

PACER
13

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Bobby Hardnett. City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge served on 10/19/2023, answer due 11/9/2023. (Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 02/09/2024)

Feb. 9, 2024

Feb. 9, 2024

PACER
14

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Bobby Hardnett. Murphy Paul served on 10/19/2023, answer due 11/9/2023. (Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 02/09/2024)

Feb. 9, 2024

Feb. 9, 2024

PACER
15

MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number ALAMDC-2713590) by Bobby Hardnett (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Certificate of Good Standing)(Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 02/15/2024)

Feb. 15, 2024

Feb. 15, 2024

PACER

MOTION(S) REFERRED: 15 MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number ALAMDC-2713590). This motion is now pending before the USMJ. (EDC)

Feb. 15, 2024

Feb. 15, 2024

PACER
16

ORDER denying pursuant to Local Rule 83(b)(8) 15 Motion for to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 2/20/2024. ATTENTION: Local counsel shall provide the following link to those attorneys granted leave to proceed pro hac vice in the Middle District of Louisiana who choose to register for e-file access www.lamd.uscourts.gov/pro-hac-vice-e-filing-registration. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.) (KAH) (Entered: 02/20/2024)

Feb. 20, 2024

Feb. 20, 2024

PACER

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Feb. 20, 2024

Feb. 20, 2024

PACER
17

MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number ALAMDC-2715597) by Bobby Hardnett (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Certificate of Good Standing)(Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 02/20/2024)

Feb. 20, 2024

Feb. 20, 2024

PACER
18

MOTION to Dismiss by Murphy Paul (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss, # 2 Proposed Pleading; Proposed Order)(Griffin, Gillian) (Entered: 02/21/2024)

1 Attachment Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss

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2 Proposed Pleading; Proposed Order

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Feb. 21, 2024

Feb. 21, 2024

PACER

MOTION(S) REFERRED: 17 MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number ALAMDC-2715597). This motion is now pending before the USMJ. (EDC)

Feb. 21, 2024

Feb. 21, 2024

PACER
19

STATUS REPORT by All Plaintiffs. (Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 02/21/2024)

Feb. 21, 2024

Feb. 21, 2024

PACER
20

Minute Entry/Order for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson: Scheduling Conference held on 2/21/2024. The parties discussed the status of this matter and the parties' failure to timely submit a joint status report. During the call, counsel for Pla filed a joint status report into the record. The Court noted that the joint status report did not include an insert from the City- Parish, which has not yet filed responsive pleadings. Counsel for Pla will communicate with the Parish Attorney's Office about filing responsive pleadings and providing inserts for a new joint status report. The telephone scheduling conference will be reset by separate order. (KAH) (Entered: 02/21/2024)

Feb. 21, 2024

Feb. 21, 2024

PACER
21

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER: Scheduling Conference set for 3/20/2024 at 04:00 PM before Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson. Status Report due by 3/6/2024. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 2/21/2024. (KAH) (Entered: 02/21/2024)

Feb. 21, 2024

Feb. 21, 2024

PACER
22

ORDER denying 17 Motion for to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 2/26/2024. ATTENTION: Local counsel shall provide the following link to those attorneys granted leave to proceed pro hac vice in the Middle District of Louisiana who choose to register for e-file access www.lamd.uscourts.gov/pro-hac-vice-e-filing-registration. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.) (KAH) (Entered: 02/26/2024)

Feb. 26, 2024

Feb. 26, 2024

PACER

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Feb. 26, 2024

Feb. 26, 2024

PACER
23

MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number BLAMDC-2728935) by Bobby Hardnett (Attachments: # 1 Attachment Certificate of Good Standing)(Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 03/19/2024)

March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

PACER
24

STATUS REPORT by Bobby Hardnett. (Haley, Ronald) (Entered: 03/20/2024)

March 20, 2024

March 20, 2024

PACER
25

Minute Entry/Order for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson: Scheduling Conference held on 3/20/2024. The parties discussed the status of this matter and timing of various filings. Plaintiff informed the Court that he will file an amended complaint by Friday, March 22, 2024, and responsive pleadings will be due per the Federal Rules and Local Rules. When responsive pleadings have been filed, the Court will accordingly issue a scheduling order for the anticipated class certification discovery and motions deadline. (KAH) (Entered: 03/21/2024)

March 20, 2024

March 20, 2024

PACER

MOTION(S) REFERRED: 23 MOTION for Mark V. Maguire, Esq. to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee $100.00, Receipt Number BLAMDC-2728935). This motion is now pending before the USMJ. (EDC)

March 21, 2024

March 21, 2024

PACER
26

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Bobby Hardnett.(Haley, Ronald) Modified on 3/25/2024 to edit text. (EDC). (Entered: 03/22/2024)

March 22, 2024

March 22, 2024

RECAP
27

ORDER denying pursuant to Local Rule 83(b)(8) 23 Motion for to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson on 3/25/2024. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no hyperlink or PDF document associated with this entry.) (KAH) (Entered: 03/25/2024)

March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024

PACER
28

Scheduling Order

Aug. 9, 2024

Aug. 9, 2024

PACER
29

Default Judgment

Jan. 20, 2025

Jan. 20, 2025

RECAP
30

Leave to File Document

March 3, 2025

March 3, 2025

PACER
32

Order on Motion for Default Judgment

March 6, 2025

March 6, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Policing

Special Collection(s):

Strip Search Cases

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 29, 2023

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An individual who filed the class action lawsuit on behalf of those strip searched and taken into custody without probable cause or without reasonable suspicion.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Baton Rouge Police Department (East Baton Rouge), City

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Policing:

False arrest