The INDsider -> The Independent Staff THU, APR 30 4:10AM by IND Monthly Staff

Former Picard foe files suit

Joseph B. Cormier, a retired Lafayette police officer and two-time candidate for Lafayette City Marshal, has filed suit against several members of the office he ran for, including longtime City Marshal Earl “Nickey” Picard, detailed in a report in today’s Advocate.

The federal lawsuit accuses Picard and his son, Chief Deputy Marshal Timothy Picard, as well as members of the Lafayette Police Department and Lafayette city prosecutor’s office, of defaming his character in the lead-up to last fall’s election. Picard, who has been city marshal for two decades, easily won the 2008 election, as well as a tilt with Cormier in 1996.

The suit accuses the Picards and others of leaking to local media internal police documents regarding an April 2008 arrest of Cormier during a scuffle with transients on a vacant lot Cormier owns near downtown. Cormier was later acquitted on two charges related to the arrest, but was convicted of disturbing the peace. The suit also alleges that Lafayette police officers committed perjury during testimony at his trial.

Picard declined comment on the lawsuit.

Articles by this Author:

View all articles by this author

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by Look Out , April 30, 2009 - 05:57 pm

Didn't Cormier have Mike Stagg as his campaign manager?

That alone should give away the fact that he has horrible judgment.

...
written by Rob , May 01, 2009 - 01:08 am

The Ferengi are so litigious...oh, wrong Picard.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in using your Facebook account or register if you do not have an account yet.

Most Read

Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Lafayette’s ‘sinking ship’ is cash flow positive

“We’ve crossed that magic threshold,” LUS Director Terry Huval says.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Child porn nets deMahy 2 years in prison

Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.