Motion for Summary Judgment filed on behalf of the Alexandria City Council

Judge Koch ruled in favor of Alexandria City Council, and its members Cynthia Perry, Gerber Porter, Reddex Washington, Jim Villard and Catherine Davidson.

On September 15, 2022, in Rapides Parish District Court Docket # 270, 665 Div. E, Judge Koch GRANTED the Motion for Summary Judgment filed on behalf of the Alexandria City Council, and its members Cynthia Perry, Gerber Porter, Reddex Washington, Jim Villard and Catherine Davidson effectively dismissing all of the claims the City Administration, Jeff Hall and Chuck Fowler made in the May 5, 2021 lawsuit in response to the May 4, 2021 override of the veto of the 2021-2022 budget.

The ruling effectively finds the claims by the City Administration, Jeff Hall, and Chuck Fowler have no merit and no trial is necessary. As such, the trial set for October 2022 has been removed from the docket.

At the same hearing, Judge Koch, DENIED the Motion for Summy Judgment filed by the Administration and Jeff Hall, as well as, the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Chuck Fowler against his fellow Council-members.

After more than a 16 months and more than $250,000 in taxpayer funded attorneys’ fees, this ruling confirms the actions of the 5 City Council-members amending the 2021-2022 budget to add $2 million for APD raises and moving the $113,000 from the Public Safety Commissioner position to recruiting is squarely within the authority of the City Council.

Neither the Alexandria Home Rule Charter, nor the Louisiana Budgetary Act was violated by the five council members who voted for the amendments.