FILE – Louisiana State Freeway 1 is seen from above Grand Isle, La., on July 27, 2010. Grand Isle will repeal an anti-obscenity ordinance and let a contractor fly a flag from his truck that carries an obscenity geared toward President Joe Biden, beneath the phrases of a lawsuit settlement filed Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in federal court docket. (AP Photograph/Patrick Semansky, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A resort island city on the Louisiana coast will repeal an anti-obscenity ordinance and let a contractor fly a flag from his truck that carries an obscenity geared toward President Joe Biden, beneath the phrases of a lawsuit settlement filed Friday in federal court docket.
The settlement got here in a lawsuit the Tulane First Modification Regulation Clinic filed in January towards the city of Grand Isle on behalf of Ross Brunet of Reduce Off, Louisiana, who works on the island commonly. The swimsuit mentioned he repeatedly flew three flags from his truck. One promoted breast most cancers consciousness. Two bore vulgarities geared toward Biden and individuals who voted for him.
Brunet was ticketed seven instances, based on the lawsuit. He efficiently defended himself towards 4 tickets. Regardless of profitable these circumstances, he was later ticketed three extra instances. The final three circumstances have been dropped after the city adopted an ordinance stating that indicators on autos “shall not comprise language deemed offensive and vulgar nor obscene in nature and can’t comprise language that describes a intercourse act.”
Friday’s settlement settlement states that Brunet “was wrongfully cited for partaking in constitutionally protected speech of flying flags with political messages.” It says Brunet will obtain $40,000 in damages and authorized charges. And it says Grand Isle officers will repeal the ordinance by Oct. 20. In return, Brunet will drop the lawsuit.
The settlement is awaiting approval from a federal choose.