In February 2020, Chief Judge Maurice Hicks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana adopted Magistrate Judge Hornsby’s Report and Recommendation awarding the Parish of Natchitoches $23,000 in attorneys’ fees and an additional $500.00 in costs as a result of the Parish prevailing in a Title VII race discrimination case filed by Harry Braxton, a former Parish employee.  Upon the filing of the Parish’s Motion for Summary Judgment seeking immediate rejection of his claims, Mr. Braxton’s attorney dismissed the plaintiff’s case, with prejudice.  Further, the attorney admitted that Mr. Braxton could not refute the undisputed material evidence put forth by the Parish in its Motion for Summary Judgment.  Afterwards, the Parish filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, which the court granted in the amount of $23,000, plus costs.  Citing Mr. Braxton’s admissions, the Court found his claims of discrimination to be frivolous, thus warranting this award of attorneys’ fees and costs.  Steven M. Oxenhandler, M. Allison Johnson, and Michael J. O’Shee participated in this noteworthy victory.

Here are links to the Magistrate’s Report and Recommendation and the Court’s Order.