U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown has granted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell an extension to respond to a civil rights lawsuit filed by Anne Breaud.
The suit, which accuses Cantrell and several other defendants of unlawfully disclosing Breaud’s personal information and photograph, was filed in July 2024. The defendants now have until September 10 to respond.
The lawsuit names Mayor Cantrell, her Chief of Staff Clifton Davis, the City of New Orleans, and New Orleans Police Department officers Leslie Guzman, Victor Gant, and Ryan St. Martin as defendants.
Breaud alleges that her private information was made public by Cantrell and her campaign team, raising serious questions about potential civil rights and privacy violations.
Since becoming a subject of federal scrutiny, Mayor Cantrell’s office has been notably reserved in its public communications.
According to reports, her office has implemented strict measures to control media interactions, including supervising city employees during interviews.
Despite this, the mayor’s office has remained largely silent regarding the current lawsuit, with the City of New Orleans issuing a brief statement:
“The City of New Orleans will withhold any comment at this time due to the ongoing nature of this litigation. Our position will be communicated in our answer to the petition.”
Although Mayor Cantrell is not directly named in the federal indictment of her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, she is identified in the indictment as “Public Official 1.”
Legal experts have noted that this identification may signal further legal action against Cantrell.
Rafael Goyeneche, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, commented on the potential implications, stating:
“I don’t believe for a second that it was an accident or a coincidence that they identified the mayor in that indictment. Veteran prosecutors are well aware of statutory deadlines and timelines, and this could indicate additional indictments are forthcoming.”
With the extended deadline in place, the legal community will be closely monitoring the developments as the defendants prepare their responses.
