New Orleans Woman Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against Mayor Cantrell

A New Orleans woman, Anne W. Breaud, has filed a federal lawsuit exceeding $1 million against Mayor LaToya Cantrell, her chief of staff, and eight members of the city police department, alleging civil rights violations and defamation. The lawsuit stems from accusations made by Cantrell, who claimed Breaud was stalking and harassing her. Breaud contends that these allegations are false and that Cantrell and her associates improperly accessed confidential state and federal information regarding her. The lawsuit names Cantrell, her chief of staff, the city, and several police officers, both identified and unnamed. The police department has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation, while the city has stated that its position will be revealed in forthcoming court filings. The controversy ignited when Breaud took photographs of Cantrell and a retired police bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, dining on a restaurant balcony, which she later shared with a police oversight group. Breaud's lawsuit claims that Cantrell misrepresented her actions, accusing her of distributing the photos to the media and stalking the mayor. In contrast, Breaud argues that it is Cantrell who has engaged in harassment and character assassination against her. The lawsuit also alleges that police officials unlawfully accessed Breaud's personal information and made it public, seeking $500,000 in actual damages and an additional $500,000 in punitive damages for the emotional distress and legal costs incurred.