Work from Home Lunch

A judge has granted an extension in a federal civil case lodged against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. New Orleans resident Anne Breaud filed a federal civil lawsuit against Cantrell back in July. The judge granted an extension, giving Cantrell and members of her staff more time to file a response and turn over documents. The new deadline is Sept. 10. This comes after a separate judge recently threw out the restraining order and complaint Cantrell filed in May against Breaud. The judge ruled that Cantrell had to cover Breaud’s attorney fees. Breaud claims in her complaint that her civil rights were violated and that the Mayor’s stalking allegations caused her emotional distress. She also claims that she was the victim of malicious prosecution. Breaud is seeking emotional damages as well as financial compensation for the money she spent hiring lawyers. The lawsuit comes just weeks after four New Orleans Officers were accused of releasing Breaud’s personal information. The case was dismissed; however, Breaud’s attorney issued subpoenas for all NOPD records, policies and communications surrounding Officer Jeffrey Vappie in the case after Breaud said some of her personal information was leaked in the restraining order Cantrell filed against her. That information included Breauds drivers license photo from 15 years ago, Social Security number and an expunged criminal history. These are items that law enforcement agencies have access to, but not Cantrell, who filed the stalking complaint as a private citizen.Vappie, the mayor’s former security guard with whom she’s been accused of having a relationship, was one of four officers accused of leaking Breaud’s information. Sources tell WDSU that the other officers include Leslie Guzman, Ryan St. Martin and Victor Gant. According to WDSU sources, a PIB investigation has been launched on all four officers.TLG, a private outside firm, has been contracted to investigate the PIB complaints for the NOPD.Emails obtained by WDSU shows a TLG attorney told Breaud’s attorney Justin Schmidt the four officers face allegations of violating NOPD rules regarding performance of duty, neglect of duty and the improper release of personal identifying information Vappie retired June 29. Sources tell WDSU he may be indicted soon in connection with his payroll and time cards. The City of New Orleans issued the following statement regarding the lawsuit: “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.”EARLIER REPORTS: A subpoena has been issued for all NOPD records, policies and communications surrounding Officer Jeffrey Vappie in the case of Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her alleged stalker, Anne Breaud. Breaud’s attorney wants all communication NOPD has about her, in addition to policies about the mayor’s executive protective detail.Breaud, who is accused of stalking and photographing the New Orleans mayor, has filed a motion in court to dismiss a restraining order filed against her.This comes after Cantrell was granted a petition for a protective order against Breaud, who Cantrell claims is taking photos of her and possibly putting her in harm’s way. According to public civil court records, the mayor claims Breaud has been “aggressively” photographing and harassing her. Cantrell has cited that her most recent incident with the defendant happened when she says she was photographed and harassed while having lunch on a restaurant balcony. Breaud filed an affidavit stating that the mayor’s accusations against her were false. According to Breaud, she has never been in a public place or private function at the same time as Cantrell, but did live next to her at the Pontalba. Breaud alleges that from her balcony, she was able to have a 24/7 view of the French Quarter, including the restaurant where the mayor and her security officer, Jeffrey Vappie, were photographed together, as well as her formerly city-owned apartment. This explanation comes after the Metropolitan Crime Commission received the photos of the mayor at lunch and called for an investigation into the mayor and one of her security detail officers. According to Breaud, she claims that her balcony is directly across from the restaurant where she photographed Cantrell and Vappie and that she couldn’t aggressively harass her due to the busy street below and the distance between the balconies. Breaud says in the affidavit that due to the news coverage of the mayor’s use of the Pontalba, she often shared photos of her when she saw the mayor due to the increased public interest.Breaud is asking for the restraining order to be rescinded since the accusations do not warrant a restraining order. However, Breaud’s lawyer, Justin Schmidt, said it is common for judges to grant TROs for a 10-day preliminary period out of an abundance of caution.Schmidt says in this case, Breaud does not feel it is warranted. The affidavit states: “Cantrells libelous allegations are reckless misrepresentations at best, patent lies at worst, and are a miscalculated and misplaced effort to restrict Anne Breaud from continuing to capture perhaps compromising, yet public and constitutionally protected, photographs of Cantrell, the Citys highest-ranking public official, whose behavior is very much a matter of public interest.” Breaud also says she plans on contacting police about information included in the original restraining order, claiming that she questions how Cantrell obtained the information. The affidavit said: “Cantrell obtained Breauds photograph and official information about her past, which is not accessible except through law enforcement in certain criminal matters. Anne Breaud intends to further investigate these issues with further inquiry of Cantrell, Vappie and the New Orleans Police Department.”A spokesperson from the city of New Orleans issued a statement last week regarding the protective order: Mayor Cantrell, like every citizen in our city, has the fundamental right to safety and to take steps necessary to protect herself and family as defined by the law. The Mayor deserves the same respect she shows to others, and the opportunity to pursue a good quality of life as she continues to serve the people of this city and remains totally dedicated to doing the work to move New Orleans Forward Together.The hearing on the TRO is still on for Monday. Breaud’s attorney says he will be in attendance for the hearing.