Defense withdraws request to postpone Wednesday’s hearing
Cites Seuzeneau’s resignation without addressing subsequent volunteer appointment
COVINGTON — A hearing in a public records lawsuit against the Slidell Police Department remains scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, after attorneys for the department withdrew a request to postpone the proceedings.
The hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. before Judge Martin E. Coady in Division E of the 22nd Judicial District Court.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 30 by attorney Dominick J. Latino III, alleges that SPD failed to comply with Louisiana’s Public Records Law following a request for extensive departmental records, including personnel and employment information involving St. Tammany Parish sheriff candidate Daniel Seuzeneau.
The defendants, including SPD, Seuzeneau and two police officers, filed several procedural objections last week, challenging the structure of Latino’s lawsuit and seeking dismissal of the claims against the three individuals.
In an Oct. 22 motion, defense attorney Jack E. Truitt requested that Wednesday’s hearing be postponed because of a scheduling conflict with another trial. Truitt stated in the motion that Latino’s attorney, Ross Lagarde, opposed the request.
However, in a letter filed Monday, Truitt informed the court that the conflicting trial had been continued and withdrew his request to reschedule the hearing.
Court records Tuesday morning continued to list Wednesday’s hearing at 9:30 a.m. The previously scheduled Nov. 4 hearing was marked canceled.
Seuzeneau’s volunteer appointment remains unaddressed
In a 10-page memorandum filed Oct. 21, the defendants’ attorneys argue that Seuzeneau cannot be compelled to produce departmental records because he resigned from SPD in July and no longer has access to its records or authority over their release.
However, as previously reported by Mandeville Daily, SPD personnel records show that Seuzeneau was appointed to another position July 21, the same day he resigned as chief administrative officer.
The personnel order, signed by Police Chief Tommy Williams, appointed Seuzeneau as Administrative Reserve — Special Assistant to the Chief for an indefinite period.
Louisiana’s civil service rules prohibit classified employees from participating in political campaigns, including running for public office. The restrictions are intended to preserve political neutrality in government employment, protecting public agencies from partisan influence and ensuring that public employees are not subjected to political pressure.
Seuzeneau’s chief administrative officer position was classified, making his resignation necessary to pursue his candidacy. However, his immediate appointment to an unpaid volunteer position raises a separate question: Whether the position involved similar or overlapping departmental duties and, if so, whether those responsibilities would leave him subject to the same political activity restrictions, regardless of compensation.
The defendants’ latest filings do not acknowledge that appointment or explain whether Seuzeneau’s continuing association with SPD involved access to departmental records or authority over their release.
Although the appointment does not necessarily establish that Seuzeneau was a legally designated custodian of public records, the extent of his responsibilities following his resignation remains unclear.
The defendants also challenge the identification of the proper records custodian, the combination of different legal proceedings and the scope of Latino’s public records request. They seek dismissal of the claims against Seuzeneau and the two officers.
As of Tuesday morning, court records showed no ruling on the defendants’ objections, and Wednesday’s hearing remained scheduled for 9:30 a.m., six days before the Nov. 3 sheriff’s election.
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