Case: Washington v. Smith

2:24-cv-00145 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Jan. 13, 2024

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case about the pretextual stop of a Louisiana citizen. On January 13, 2024, a Louisiana citizen filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The plaintiff sued the sheriff of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO), several officers, and the insurance company that covered the other defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 1988, and 2000(d). The plaintiff’s claim was based on an incident wherein he was stopped for an alleged traffic offense that he…

This is a case about the pretextual stop of a Louisiana citizen. On January 13, 2024, a Louisiana citizen filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The plaintiff sued the sheriff of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO), several officers, and the insurance company that covered the other defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 1988, and 2000(d). The plaintiff’s claim was based on an incident wherein he was stopped for an alleged traffic offense that he was never given a citation for. The plaintiff asserted that the defendants extended the stop and unconstitutionally harassed, questioned, and searched him. Represented by the ACLU Foundation of Louisiana and private counsel, the plaintiff sought injunctive and declaratory relief as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

The case was assigned to Judge Jay C. Zainey and Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault. 

The plaintiff claimed that the defendants had violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments through an unlawful extension of detention and an unlawful search and seizure. By stopping, frisking, and searching the plaintiff without any reasonable suspicion the defendants had violated his rights. Next, the plaintiff argued that the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments had also been violated through an unlawful search of the plaintiff's vehicle. The plaintiff argued that the officer defendants did not have probable cause to search the vehicle, that he had not consented to the search, that their actions exceeded the scope of the object of the search, and that he had been stopped from limiting the scope of the search. 

The plaintiff also brought claims of Monell liability and a claim under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that argued the STPSO engaged in racial discrimination. The plaintiff also brought claims of conspiracy to commit §1983 violations of the plaintiff’s Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Lastly, the plaintiff brought several claims under state law. 

On January 23, 2024, the case was transferred to Judge Brandon S. Long and Magistrate Judge Michael North. 

On February 2, 2024, the plaintiff submitted an amended complaint. The amended complaint included additional officer defendants as well as another category of defendants referred to as “custodian defendants.” The custodian defendants were authorized to respond to requests for public records and the plaintiff asserted that they had the duty to provide such records in a timely manner. The amended complaint also included additional state law claims. 

As of February 8, 2024, this case was ongoing.

Summary Authors

Rhea Sharma (2/9/2024)

Related Cases

Washington v. Smith, Eastern District of Louisiana (2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68159988/parties/washington-v-smith/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Ahmed, Nora Sam (Louisiana)

Lillian, Zoe Hannah (Louisiana)

Raulston, Elizabeth Myers (Louisiana)

Wheeler, Erin Bridget (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:24-cv-00145

Complaint

Jan. 13, 2024

Jan. 13, 2024

Complaint
15

2:24-cv-00145

Amended Complaint

Feb. 2, 2024

Feb. 2, 2024

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68159988/washington-v-smith/

Last updated July 9, 2025, 9:10 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT Against All Defendants (Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ALAEDC-10360286) filed by Bruce Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit, # 8 Exhibit, # 9 Notice of Manual Attachment, # 10 Exhibit, # 11 Exhibit, # 12 Exhibit, # 13 Exhibit, # 14 Summons, # 15 Summons, # 16 Summons, # 17 Summons, # 18 Summons, # 19 Summons, # 20 Summons, # 21 Summons, # 22 Summons, # 23 Summons, # 24 Summons)Attorney Erin Bridget Wheeler added to party Bruce Washington(pty:pla).(Wheeler, Erin) (Attachment 1 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 14 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 15 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 16 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 17 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 18 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 19 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 20 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 21 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 22 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 23 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). (Attachment 24 replaced on 1/16/2024) (mmm). Modified/flattened attachments on 1/16/2024 (mmm). (Entered: 01/13/2024)

Jan. 13, 2024

Jan. 13, 2024

PACER
2

Initial Case Assignment to Judge Jay C. Zainey and Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault. (cc) (Entered: 01/16/2024)

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER

Initial Case Assignment

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER
3

Civil Cover Sheet Submitted (Wheeler, Erin) (Entered: 01/16/2024)

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER
4

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk re 1 Complaint. Filing attorney did not properly format the pdf of Civil Cover Sheet and Summons. **IMPORTANT: When using a FORM, fill in the applicable fields then click the red PRINT button at the bottom to print the document to pdf format. Clerk has taken corrective action. (mmm) (Entered: 01/16/2024)

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER
5

Summons Issued as to Jeremy Church, Chance Cloud, George Cox, Curtis Finn, Frank J Francois, Jr, Dale Galloway, Taylor Lewis, OneBeacon Insurance Group, Richard Palmisano, Douglas Searle, Randy Smith. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons, # 6 Summons, # 7 Summons, # 8 Summons, # 9 Summons, # 10 Summons)(mmm) (Entered: 01/16/2024)

Jan. 16, 2024

Jan. 16, 2024

PACER
6

EXPARTE/CONSENT MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice Zoe Lillian (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number ALAEDC-10364895) by Bruce Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Proposed Order)(Wheeler, Erin) (Entered: 01/17/2024)

Jan. 17, 2024

Jan. 17, 2024

PACER
7

Manual Attachment Received re 1 Complaint, Exhibit 8, filed by Bruce Washington. (mmm) (Entered: 01/18/2024)

Jan. 18, 2024

Jan. 18, 2024

PACER

Manual Attachment Received

Jan. 18, 2024

Jan. 18, 2024

PACER
8

EXPARTE/CONSENT MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice Elizabeth Raulston (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number ALAEDC-10369093) by Bruce Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Elizabeth Raulston, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Proposed Order)(Wheeler, Erin) (Entered: 01/19/2024)

Jan. 19, 2024

Jan. 19, 2024

PACER
9

ORDER GRANTING 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Zoe Hannah Lillian. Signed by Judge Jay C. Zainey on 1/18/2024. (Attachments: # 1 Pro Hac Notice) (jls) (Entered: 01/22/2024)

Jan. 22, 2024

Jan. 22, 2024

PACER
10

ORDER GRANTING 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Elizabeth Myers Raulston. Signed by Judge Jay C. Zainey on 1/22/2024. (Attachments: # 1 Pro Hac Notice) (jls) (Entered: 01/22/2024)

Jan. 22, 2024

Jan. 22, 2024

PACER
11

EXPARTE/CONSENT MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice Nora Ahmed (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number ALAEDC-10372561) by Bruce Washington. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Nora Ahmed, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Consent to Electronic Filing, # 4 Proposed Order)(Wheeler, Erin) (Entered: 01/23/2024)

Jan. 23, 2024

Jan. 23, 2024

PACER
12

ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE. Case transferred to Judge Brandon S. Long and Magistrate Judge Michael North. Judge Jay C. Zainey, Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault no longer assigned to case. Signed by Judge Jay C. Zainey on 1/23/2024.(mmm) (Entered: 01/23/2024)

Jan. 23, 2024

Jan. 23, 2024

PACER
13

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk re 11 MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice Nora Ahmed (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number ALAEDC-10372561). Document contains incorrect Section and Magistrate Judge. All future pleadings must reflect Section O Judge Brandon S. Long and Magistrate Judge (5) Michael B. North. (cs) (Entered: 01/24/2024)

Jan. 24, 2024

Jan. 24, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

Jan. 24, 2024

Jan. 24, 2024

PACER
14

ORDER granting 11 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Nora Sam Ahmed. Signed by Judge Brandon S. Long on 01/25/2024. (Attachments: # 1 PHV Notice) (js) (Entered: 01/26/2024)

Jan. 26, 2024

Jan. 26, 2024

PACER
15

Amended Complaint

Feb. 2, 2024

Feb. 2, 2024

PACER
16

Summons Issued

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

PACER

Manual Attachment Received

Feb. 29, 2024

Feb. 29, 2024

PACER
18

Appear Pro Hac Vice

March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

PACER
19

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

March 22, 2024

March 22, 2024

PACER
20

Extension of Deadlines

April 9, 2024

April 9, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

April 10, 2024

April 10, 2024

PACER
22

Order on Motion for Extension of Deadlines

April 11, 2024

April 11, 2024

PACER
23

Summons Returned Executed

May 1, 2024

May 1, 2024

PACER
24

Summons Returned Executed

May 1, 2024

May 1, 2024

PACER
25

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
26

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
27

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
28

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
29

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
30

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
31

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
32

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
33

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
34

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
35

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
36

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
37

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
38

Summons Returned Executed

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

PACER
39

Dismiss AND Strike

May 17, 2024

May 17, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

May 20, 2024

May 20, 2024

PACER
41

Response/Memorandum in Opposition to Motion

June 4, 2024

June 4, 2024

PACER
42

Continue AND Expedite AND Leave to File Document

June 7, 2024

June 7, 2024

PACER
43

Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

June 11, 2024

June 11, 2024

PACER
44

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
45

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
46

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
47

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
48

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
49

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
50

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
51

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
52

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
53

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
54

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
55

Affidavit of Service

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
56

Waiver of Service Executed

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
57

Waiver of Service Executed

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
58

Extension of Deadlines

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

PACER
59

Order on Motion for Extension of Deadlines

June 17, 2024

June 17, 2024

PACER
60

Leave to File Document

June 18, 2024

June 18, 2024

PACER
61

Miscellaneous Relief

June 20, 2024

June 20, 2024

PACER
63

Request for Summons Issued

June 20, 2024

June 20, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

June 20, 2024

June 20, 2024

PACER
64

Request for Summons Issued

June 21, 2024

June 21, 2024

PACER
65

Summons Issued

June 21, 2024

June 21, 2024

PACER
66

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief AND Order on Motion to Expedite

June 25, 2024

June 25, 2024

PACER
67

Substitute Attorney

July 1, 2024

July 1, 2024

PACER
68

Order on Motion to Substitute Attorney

July 1, 2024

July 1, 2024

PACER
69

Continue AND Expedite

July 10, 2024

July 10, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

July 11, 2024

July 11, 2024

PACER
71

Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

July 16, 2024

July 16, 2024

PACER
72

Miscellaneous Relief

July 26, 2024

July 26, 2024

PACER
73

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

PACER
74

Withdraw Document

Aug. 5, 2024

Aug. 5, 2024

PACER
75

Order on Motion to Withdraw

Aug. 6, 2024

Aug. 6, 2024

PACER
76

Withdraw Document

Aug. 6, 2024

Aug. 6, 2024

PACER
77

Order on Motion to Withdraw

Aug. 8, 2024

Aug. 8, 2024

PACER
78

More Definite Statement AND Strike

Aug. 20, 2024

Aug. 20, 2024

PACER
79

File Excess Pages

Aug. 20, 2024

Aug. 20, 2024

PACER
80

Leave to File Document

Aug. 20, 2024

Aug. 20, 2024

PACER
83

Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

Aug. 21, 2024

Aug. 21, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

Aug. 21, 2024

Aug. 21, 2024

PACER

Manual Attachment Received

Aug. 22, 2024

Aug. 22, 2024

PACER
85

Order on Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages

Aug. 23, 2024

Aug. 23, 2024

PACER
86

Dismiss/Failure to State a Claim/FRCP12(b)(6)

Aug. 23, 2024

Aug. 23, 2024

PACER
87

Response/Memorandum in Opposition to Motion

Sept. 10, 2024

Sept. 10, 2024

PACER
88

Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Sept. 10, 2024

Sept. 10, 2024

PACER
89

Expedite

Sept. 10, 2024

Sept. 10, 2024

PACER

Correction of Docket Entry by Clerk

Sept. 13, 2024

Sept. 13, 2024

PACER
91

Reply to Response to Motion

Sept. 16, 2024

Sept. 16, 2024

PACER
92

Order on Motion to Expedite

Sept. 18, 2024

Sept. 18, 2024

PACER
93

Response/Memorandum in Opposition to Motion

Sept. 18, 2024

Sept. 18, 2024

PACER
94

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

Sept. 19, 2024

Sept. 19, 2024

PACER
95

Motion Hearing AND Order on Motion for Leave to File

Sept. 20, 2024

Sept. 20, 2024

PACER
96

Amended Complaint

Sept. 20, 2024

Sept. 20, 2024

PACER
97

Summons Issued

Sept. 20, 2024

Sept. 20, 2024

PACER

Case Details