Former Gretna Police Chief Arthur Lawson has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Parish this week, seeking to regain his seat on the board of Jefferson Facilities Inc. after the Jefferson Parish Council removed him as the nonprofit’s vice president. The lawsuit concerns a council appointment connected to a Gretna riverfront development project valued at approximately $10 million.
Suit names parish, nonprofit and a board member
According to NOLA, Lawson’s complaint lists Jefferson Parish, Jefferson Facilities Inc. (JFI), and board member Jeff Adam Sr. as defendants. The lawsuit claims that the Parish Council violated JFI’s bylaws by appointing a fourth director when, The nonprofit had only three members. He is requesting that a judge reinstate him as JFI vice president and prevent the council’s appointee from joining the board.
Council moved amid questions over oversight
The Jefferson Parish Council voted unanimously on January 14 to restructure JFI and remove Lawson, aiming to give the board an independent majority to oversee the riverfront project, FOX 8 reported. Council members and the parish inspector general had been reviewing the Kingfish Riverview plan and its financing, amid ongoing discussions over whether the development provides a tangible public benefit or primarily exists on paper.
Project background: Kingfish Riverview and the money at issue
JFI is the nonprofit responsible for overseeing a mixed-use riverside project in Gretna that includes a brewpub and commercial space. Reporting on the project’s leases and financing indicates that the parish has committed approximately $10.3 million toward the commercial portion. Parish meeting transcripts show officials referring to the Kingfish Riverview project as a state capital-outlay initiative and discussing whether the building could serve as the parish’s local match for a grant connected to a nearby parking garage. The full council discussion is available in the Jefferson Parish meeting video and transcript, and these funding questions have contributed to the ongoing dispute over who should control oversight of the site.
Lawson pushes back
Lawson told reporters that he has served on the JFI board for nearly five years and stated that the council’s changes violated the nonprofit’s bylaws. A spokesperson for Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said the administration is aware of the lawsuit but declined further comment. It is unclear when a judge might issue a ruling on Lawson’s petition.
Legal stakes
The lawsuit focuses on whether the council’s appointment process violated JFI’s rules. Lawson’s complaint argues that board members’ terms are tied to the parish president and that only the president has the authority to remove them. He is asking the court to reinstate him and remove the recent appointee. If the judge rules in Lawson’s favor, the council’s board changes could be reversed. If the court rules for the parish, the reorganization would remain in place, allowing Jefferson Parish to proceed with its new oversight structure for the riverfront project.
